The first ever local government elections for Bhutan is due on June 27, 2011. Almost three years after Bhutan became a Constitutional Democracy the much delayed local government elections will finally be taking place.
A total of 2194 candidates will be contesting for the various posts in the local government office.
Bhutan has 337168 eligible registered voters out of which 177531 are women and 171929 men. Samtse district has 38943 voters making it the district with the highest number of registered voters and Gasa has 1675 making it the least.
In Bhutan people in the religious affairs such as monks cannot cast their vote because it is believed that religion should be kept away from politics. they are therefore considered apolitical.
Some 52860 people, an increase of about 10 percent compared to 2008 general elections , are eligible for postal ballot for the upcoming first Local Government Elections.. These include civil servants, armed forces, people working in corporation and agencies who are involved in assisting conduct of election. Banks are also included. Spouses and dependents of these eligible voters are entitled for postal ballot.
The majority, 17417, of the postal ballot voters are civil servants.
There will be 1099 polling stations located in 295 gewogs.