| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Chi Tshog / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Gyelyong Tshogde / National Council |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Tshogdu / National Assembly
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
20 April 2018 |
| Purpose of elections |
121 candidates, including six women, vied for the 20 seats at stake in the 25-member National Council. All candidates ran as independents since membership of the National Council is not party-based, unlike the National Assembly. Only five of the 12 incumbents seeking re-election were returned to the National Council. The new members, with the average age of 40, come from a range of professional backgrounds, including teachers, entrepreneurs, planners, lawyers, an actor and a journalist.
Two women were elected, up from none in 2013. Turnout increased from 45 to 54 percent, due in part to the introduction of the postal voting system in the mountainous country where accessibility and transport have been a major barrier to many voters. Bhutanese abroad were allowed to cast a postal ballot for the first time in 2018. |
Date of previous elections: 23 April 2013
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 9 May 2018
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: April 2023
Number of seats at stake: 20 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 121 (115 men, 6 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 5%
Number of parties contesting the election: N/A
Membership of the National Council is not party-based.
Number of parties winning seats: N/A
Alternation of power: Not applicable
Number of parties in government: N/A
Names of parties in government: N/A
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 10 May 2018
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Tashi Dorji |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 20 April 2018 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
432'030
234'535 (54.29%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
21
4
16.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note on the distribution of seats according to sex:
Two women were elected in 2018 and two others were appointed by the King.
Sources:
National Council (15.05.2018)
http://results.ecb.bt/nc2018/
http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/
http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-third-nc-election/
https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/record-turnout-in-bhutan-elects-third-national-council/ |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
