Thimphu (AsiaNews) – The outgoing mayor, Ugyen Dorji, has been re-elected to lead Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan; but the municipal elections on 15 July highlighted another key fact above all: voter turnout fell to its lowest level on record, fuelling the debate on growing political disaffection in the small Himalayan kingdom.
With 1,846 votes, Dorji secured his second consecutive term as thrompon (mayor, in Dzongkha), having been first elected in 2021, when he defeated Kinlay Dorjjee, who had led the city administration for a decade. His opponent this time was Sonam Choden, a communications and public relations professional making her political debut. Her candidacy had been hailed by many as a potential step towards greater female representation in Bhutanese politics, but Dorji secured 67 per cent of the vote against his challenger’s 33 per cent.
What is of particular concern to observers, however, is the sharp drop in turnout. Just 32 per cent of those eligible to vote turned out, equivalent to around 2 per cent of the capital’s entire population. Although Thimphu has a population of around 141,000, only 9,000 are registered on the electoral roll for the municipal elections. A similar situation was also observed in Phuentsholing, the country’s main commercial centre, where a comparable proportion of the population voted, confirming that this phenomenon is not limited to the capital.
The decline in turnout is a relatively recent development. In the 2011 municipal elections, turnout had reached around 49 per cent in Thimphu and 72 per cent in Phuentsholing. Five years later, it had already fallen to 31 per cent and 62 per cent respectively, reaching the lows recorded this year.
According to the Bhutan Election Commission, it was young people in particular who were most likely to stay away from the polls. In the capital, only 217 voters aged between 18 and 24 cast their ballots, whilst in Phuentsholing the figure stood at just over sixty.
Several analysts believe these figures reflect a growing disconnect between citizens and institutions, with politics perceived as increasingly incapable of making a difference to everyday life. The Electoral Commission has announced a national civic education campaign to tackle voter apathy and encourage greater participation, alongside new digital initiatives such as the Know Your Candidate platform, which allows voters to view candidates’ profiles. According to the Commission’s chair, the decline in turnout is also linked to demographic changes, internal and external migration, and the evolution of Bhutanese society.
However, another explanation has also emerged in the online debate following the vote. Several voters argue that the outgoing mayor benefited from an electoral system that makes it difficult for a significant proportion of the urban population to vote. In Bhutan, citizens may only cast their vote at their place of civil registration (or mkhong). However, thousands of people who live and work permanently in towns are still registered in their home villages and, in order to vote, must undertake long and costly journeys. For many, the financial cost and the time required are a sufficient obstacle to deter them from voting.
Voter turnout was further affected by the abolition, in 2023, of postal voting for citizens residing abroad. This measure prevents the Bhutanese diaspora from participating in local elections and has drawn criticism, particularly from the many young emigrants living in Australia.
