By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 31: The Tibetan diaspora will participate in the 2021 general elections on Sunday. As the threat of Covid-19 looms over the election, some of the communities in US and UK have acquired permission from the Election Commission (EC) of the Central Tibetan Administration to hold early voting where voters can exercise their democratic rights before the stipulated time set on Sunday.
A reliable senior official in the EC confirmed that the North American constituency which comprises of US and Canada have asked for permission to hold early voting due to risks pertaining to the coronavirus. As per the Article 26 (1) of electoral rules and regulations, the regional communities can pre-pone the voting process if the circumstances are deemed necessary.
Rinchen Namgyal, a finance professional in NY, said in Nov. that early voting undertaking has logistical challenges but could prove vital in ensuring “ballot integrity” in an op-ed published in the Tibetan Review. Rinchen told Phayul, “This is positive and an encouraging step by the EC towards ensuring a safer voting process and promoting maximum voter turnout. In addition, early voting will also provide our community officials the much needed space & time to adhere to local governments’ COVID regulations.”
Important polling stations such as California, New York, Toronto, Belgium, and London are going to begin the voting procedure on 2nd Jan, one day before the scheduled election date.
