Bhutanese Electoral Administration in Comparative Perspective

Mani K Ghalay, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

Bhutan adopted its first written constitution on 18 July 2008, beginning a new era in its history. According to Article 23, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, “Under this Constitution, the general will of the people shall be the basis of the government and it shall be expressed through periodic election” (2008, 46). In line with this provision and to express the will of the people periodically, Article 24, Section 1 of the Constitution provides a legal framework for the establishment of the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB). On 31 December 2005, His Majesty, the fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, appointed Dasho Kunzang Wangdi as the first Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan. The ECB was formally established with the opening of its head office in the capital on 16 January 2006. The initial years of the ECB were devoted to drafting the Election Act and various rules and regulations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2008.

Subject Area

Political science|Public administration

Recommended Citation

Ghalay, Mani K, "Bhutanese Electoral Administration in Comparative Perspective" (2012). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1512571.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1512571

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