Only three avail of facility
Only three avail of facility
Postal Ballot 19 January, 2011 - Of the 955 eligible voters in Gelephu thromde election, only about 50 percent of the voters live in Gelephu, which means the other half should either reach Gelephu by tomorrow to cast their votes or use the postal ballot facility.
But, with only a day left for the election, the election office in Gelephu received only two postal ballots as of yesterday. The two postal ballot users, both civil servants from Namkhaling constituency, have sent two ballots each, one for the tshogpa and one for the thrompon.Namkhaling constituency has about 265 eligible voters, of which only about 100 people reside in the constituency. There were about 15 postal ballot applicants, Sarpangs returning officer, Lepo, said.But election officials accepted only three, since most of the applicants census were in gewogs like Chuzergang, Norbugang and Jigmecholing, which are outside the municipal area. Were yet to receive the third postal ballot and well wait till January 21, the returning officer said.Election officials said that two applicants did not write their mailing address and they could not send the postal ballots.Civil servants and armed forces and their spouses and dependents, students and trainees in institutions were eligible to apply for postal ballot since December 28, 2010. Initially January 6 was the last date to receive the postal ballot applicants, but after the candidature nomination date was postponed, it was not clear when the last date for postal ballot applications. We accepted till January 14, an election official said. The poor response to the postal ballot, sources in Gelephu said, might either be because of some communication gap or lack of awareness. I never knew we had to apply for the postal ballot, a civil servant in Thimphu said. I was in fact expecting them to sent us the ballot so that we can chose the candidate and send.However, election officials said that the postal ballot facility was to provide an opportu! nity for those, who are serving the country in various parts of the country, to cast their vote. But people might not have used the postal ballot facility, so that they would come personally to vote, Lepo said. We, in fact, encourage people to come personally. Meanwhile, Gelephu residents, without census in the town, said the thrompon election is of huge importance to them and the election office should have allowed them to vote too. Weve bought land here and are planning to settle here, Phuntsho Wangmo, 40, said. A civil servant in Gelephu said that at least those people, who have land and business licenses in municipal area, should be allowed to.By Tashi Dema
Postal Ballot 19 January, 2011 - Of the 955 eligible voters in Gelephu thromde election, only about 50 percent of the voters live in Gelephu, which means the other half should either reach Gelephu by tomorrow to cast their votes or use the postal ballot facility.
But, with only a day left for the election, the election office in Gelephu received only two postal ballots as of yesterday. The two postal ballot users, both civil servants from Namkhaling constituency, have sent two ballots each, one for the tshogpa and one for the thrompon.Namkhaling constituency has about 265 eligible voters, of which only about 100 people reside in the constituency. There were about 15 postal ballot applicants, Sarpangs returning officer, Lepo, said.But election officials accepted only three, since most of the applicants census were in gewogs like Chuzergang, Norbugang and Jigmecholing, which are outside the municipal area. Were yet to receive the third postal ballot and well wait till January 21, the returning officer said.Election officials said that two applicants did not write their mailing address and they could not send the postal ballots.Civil servants and armed forces and their spouses and dependents, students and trainees in institutions were eligible to apply for postal ballot since December 28, 2010. Initially January 6 was the last date to receive the postal ballot applicants, but after the candidature nomination date was postponed, it was not clear when the last date for postal ballot applications. We accepted till January 14, an election official said. The poor response to the postal ballot, sources in Gelephu said, might either be because of some communication gap or lack of awareness. I never knew we had to apply for the postal ballot, a civil servant in Thimphu said. I was in fact expecting them to sent us the ballot so that we can chose the candidate and send.However, election officials said that the postal ballot facility was to provide an opportu! nity for those, who are serving the country in various parts of the country, to cast their vote. But people might not have used the postal ballot facility, so that they would come personally to vote, Lepo said. We, in fact, encourage people to come personally. Meanwhile, Gelephu residents, without census in the town, said the thrompon election is of huge importance to them and the election office should have allowed them to vote too. Weve bought land here and are planning to settle here, Phuntsho Wangmo, 40, said. A civil servant in Gelephu said that at least those people, who have land and business licenses in municipal area, should be allowed to.By Tashi Dema
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