A total of 4,265 postal voters have cast their ballots from Sarpang for the general election slated for October 18.

According to the statistics released by the Election Commission of Bhutan, 83.14 percent of the total registered facilitation and mobile booth voters of 5,130 cast their ballots in the dzongkhag. This is almost a three percent increase in the voter turnout from the primaries.

The dzongkhag electoral officer in Sarpang, Sonam Wangda, said three facilitation booths and two mobile facilitation booths were set up in the dzongkhag. “We have five facilitation booths, including two mobile facilitation booths.”

A facilitation booth each was set up at Gelephu Higher Secondary School, Jigmeling Police Training Institute and Sarpang Central School.

Gender-wise, 1,889 men and 2,376 women cast their ballots in the facilitation booths in the dzongkhag on October 10, 11 and 12.

Voting at facilitation booths in the dzongkhag completed smoothly since voters did not rush in large numbers at a time. The first day of the voting (October 10), saw a low voter turnout but the turnout increased in the remaining two days.

Polling officials operated mobile facilitation booths at various schools including Losel Gyatsho Academy, Pelrithang Middle Secondary School and Kuendrup Higher Secondary School at different timings.

The mobile facilitation booths were also operated at Jigmeling Police Training Institute and Dolonggang village in Dekiling gewog.

A civil servant from Trashigang residing in Sarpang, who didn’t want to be named, said he voted for ‘good governance.’ He explained that he voted based on pledges and leadership capabilities, not by the candidate.

However, another civil servant said that she voted for the candidate for his capacity. She also said that she knew the candidate.

MB Subba | Gelephu