Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 7: The Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has announced an extension of the voter registration deadline for the upcoming elections of the President and the members of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile until November 30, 2025, following multiple appeals from Tibetan settlements and local election offices across India and abroad.
In a directive issued on November 4, the Commission referred to Articles 17, 18, 20, and 21 of the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile Election Rules, which initially set the voter registration period between October 8 and November 8, 2025. A prior provision under subsection 6 had also allowed Tibetan nationals who turned 18 during this time to register until November 23, 2025.
However, citing widespread appeals for additional time, the CEC invoked Article 20 of the Election Rules, which permits supplementary voter registration within 14 days after the initial deadline. Accordingly, the Commission has extended the registration period for all eligible Tibetans, including first-time voters and those who recently turned 18, to November 30, 2025.
The Election Commission stated that this extension was made in consideration of the situation of many Tibetans currently engaged in the winter sweater business, a seasonal livelihood that keeps thousands of Tibetan families away from their settlements for nearly six months each year. The business, which typically begins in September and concludes around February, serves as a primary source of income for the majority of Tibetan refugee families in India. Many settlement officers and committee members involved in the election process are also occupied with this seasonal work, which led to calls for an extension to facilitate wider voter participation.
The CEC also addressed requests from several local election committees seeking a postponement of the preliminary election, citing difficulties in achieving a quorum of two-thirds of organizing committee members due to travel and business engagements during the winter months. However, the Commission reaffirmed that under subsection 6 of Article 16 of the Election Rules, all electoral procedures and timelines determined by the Central Election Commission must be strictly adhered to and cannot be delayed due to local circumstances.
For voters, the Commission clarified that individuals who have already registered in their local constituency and intend to vote from the same location do not need to register again, provided that their Green Book remains valid. However, those who plan to vote from a different constituency in the upcoming election or are registering for the first time must ensure their names are entered in the new constituency’s electoral roll before the extended deadline.
The upcoming election will elect the next President and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, with the preliminary round scheduled for February 1, 2026, and the final round set for April 26, 2026. The results for both the presidential and parliamentary elections will be announced on May 13, 2026.
The Election Commission stated that the extension aims to ensure maximum voter participation across Tibetan exile communities worldwide and to uphold the inclusive and democratic spirit of the Central Tibetan Administration.
