Elections in Bhutan - Election Laws

Election Laws

Further information: Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009, Gewog, Chiwog, and Thromde Elected bodies of the Government of Bhutan under the Constitution of 2008

Bhutanese election laws are legislated by the Parliament of Bhutan. These laws cover candidacy, voter registration, campaigning, political parties, and procedural aspects of voting. As of 2011, election law has been codified by the Constitution of 2008, Election Act of 2008, Public Election Fund Act of 2008, National Referendum Act of 2008, National Council Act of 2008, and National Assembly Act of 2008. The Constitution provides a bare substantive and procedural framework, incorporating then-existing election laws insofar as they did not conflict. Notably, religious figures and institutions must remain above (out of) politics. The Election Act of 2008, the most comprehensive of Bhutan's election laws, was passed by Parliament on July 28, 2008, and came into force on August 12, 2008, repealing all previous laws on elections to Parliament and Local Governments. The Election Act of 2008 is the latest Bhutanese legislation codifying substantive and procedural laws on constituencies, political parties and their candidates, campaigns, elections, electoral oversight, and suffrage. It also defines a number of offenses related to elections and voting, supplementing the Penal Code. The National Referendum, Public Election Finance, National Assembly, and National Council, and Local Government Acts all regulate their particular subject matter within the framework provided by the Constitution and refined by the Election Act.