Dechen Dolkar

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) spent a total of Nu 528.03 million for the fourth National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC) elections held last year.

However, this figure reflects a decrease in spending compared to the previous electoral cycle.

Specifically, the ECB allocated Nu 358.703 million for the fourth NA elections, a reduction of Nu 81.109 million from the Nu 439.812 million spent during the third NA elections in 2018.

Similarly, expenditures for the fourth NC elections totalled Nu 169.327 million, down by Nu 76.517 million from the Nu 245.844 million spent in 2018.

The ECB attributed this reduction to a series of austerity measures, which included halting the printing of Voter Photo Identity Cards, using black-and-white printing for electoral rolls instead of colour, reducing the number of polling stations from 867 in 2018 to 809 in 2023-24, and cutting the number of polling officials from six per station to four.

An ECB official said that the decrease in expenditure occurred alongside an increase in the Consumer Price Index and higher Daily Subsistence Allowances for civil servants for civil servants from Nu 1,000 to Nu 1,500 for P-level staff, and from Nu 500 to Nu 1,000 for S-level staff.

During the primary round of the fourth NA elections, all five political parties returned un-spent state campaign funds, with the Bhutan Tendrel Party refunding the highest amount.

In total, about Nu 2.1 million was returned.

Similarly, in the general elections, a total of 55 candidates returned a combined total of Nu 191,390.66 in unspent state campaign funds. Each candidate had been allocated Nu 150,000 as a campaign fund by the ECB.

For voter education initiatives, the ECB allocated Nu 2.498 million to the fourth NC elections and Nu 2.974 million to the fourth NA elections, aimed at enhancing civic engagement and voter participation.

The fourth NC elections achieved the highest voter turnout to date, with 54.64 percent of eligible voters participating. In contrast, the fourth NA elections saw a turnout of 65.6 percent, down from 71.46 percent in 2018.

To address the decline in voter turnout, the ECB is launching an enhanced Civic and Voter Education Programme (CVEP). Developed in collaboration with consultants, this initiative will target six key groups: youth, students, women, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and urban residents.

Following a successful pilot, the CVEP is set for full implementation in the coming winter months after a final review.

The ECB is also seeking additional resources from the Ministry of Finance to support its efforts. ECB plans to introduce innovative strategies to boost voter turnout in future elections.