Coordinating election in a big dzongkhag is a daunting task. With 17 gewogs and 77 polling stations in Mongar, election officials are busy preparing to ensure a smooth election in the dzongkhag.
To transport officials on election duty to the polling stations, election officials have deployed four school buses, 46 Boleros and 13 other pool vehicles.
The first batch was transported at 37 different polling stations on April 17 at Silambi, Gondue, Khengkhar, Jurmey, Narang, Drametse, Balam and Thangrong gewogs.
Yesterday, another batch of officials were dropped at 40 polling stations in nine gewogs, Mongar, Saling, Tsamang, Tsakaling, Chali, Chasakhar, Ngatsang, Drepong, and Sherimuhung gewogs.
Mongar has 13 candidates contesting for a seat in the National Assembly.
Returning Officer Tenzin Wangchuk said since Mongar dzongkhag has many polling stations, they recruited 616 polling officials including security personals. A total of 154 EVM, two each for the 77 polling stations were provided.
A few of the polling stations are not within the telecom network and results will be relayed today after reaching places where there is mobile connectivity.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday evening, officials received 6,611 votes of which 4,123 were through postal ballot facilitation centres and 2,488 conventional postal ballots.
Election officials also conducted refresher-training programme for four days given the sheer number of presiding officers, polling officers, counting personnel, observers among others. The two-day programme for the second batch was conducted on April 17 and 18. The first refresher-training programme was conducted on April 15 and 16 for 185 polling officials who were dispatched to 37 different polling stations in eight gewogs on April 17.
The second batch with 200 polling officials concluded the programme on April 18 and was dispatched to 40 different polling stations in nine gewogs. The polling officials were trained to conduct a mock session to create awareness to voters.
Despite the challenges, election officials said they are all set for the poll day.
Tashi Phuntsho | Mongar