Introduction

The Tibetan democratic system, built under the visionary leadership of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, remains one of the greatest achievements of the Tibetan community in exile. Yet, for many, finding accurate and up-to-date information about the elections, candidates, and procedures can be challenging. Tibet Votes bridges this gap by gathering information from official and credible sources, presenting it clearly and neutrally for public use.

Election Commission

Soon after coming into exile in 1959, the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people, H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama democratized the Tibetan political system as He strongly believed that no system of governance can ensure stability and progress if it depended solely on one person without support and participation of the people in the political process. Therefore, it is said that Tibetan democracy was gifted by H.H. the Dalai Lama, unlike other democracies which often takes birth after prolonged public uprisings and protests, even at the expense of sacrifice of people's lives.

In 1974, H.H. the Dalai Lama introduced the first ever Tibetan Electoral Rules. Later, in 1990, the Special Conference of the Tibetan People passed a resolution to revise the Tibetan Electoral Rules. The charter for Tibetans-in-exile was also drafted in the same year. In 1991, the 11th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile adopted the Charter for Tibetans in exile. Consequently, the three pillars of democracy viz, the Kashag (executive), Tibetan Parliament-in-exile (legislature) and Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (judiciary) came into existence. Similarly, the autonomous bodies of a democratic government namely, the Election Commission, Public Service Commission and Audit Commission were formed.

The Election Commission is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering the elections of Sikyong, the Head of the Tibetan Administration, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Settlement Officers, Local Tibetan Assemblies, members of the Tibetan Freedom movement and any major Tibetan election. The Election Commission is headed by the Election Commissioner who is appointed by the Tibetan Parliament in exile for a tenure of 5 years or until he/she attains the age of 65 whichever comes first. The Tibetan Parliament also appoints two additional Election Commissioners when Tibetan people go into polls every 5 years.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Power and Responsibilities of the Election Commission

• The Election Commission has the full authority to the administration of electoral affairs of the Central Tibetan Administration.
• It has the authority to deal with any electoral disputes and take decision accordingly.
• It shall draft the electoral rules and also revise it if needed before putting it up with the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile for its approval
• It shall appoint the Regional Election Commissioner and Assistant Regional Election Commissioner
• The Chief Election Commissioner shall discuss with the Kashag on the appointment and transfer of its office staff by Kashag
• The Chief Election Commissioner shall control the annual budget and accounts of the office.
• Staff of the Election Commission shall seek the Chief's approval for any official tour
• The Chief Election Commission shall seek his/her official tour approval from Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Current Leadership of the Election Commission

Lobsang Yeshi - Chief Election Commissioner

Lobsang Yeshi is an alumnus of SFF Tibetan School in Herbertpur. He earned his B.A./B.Ed. degree from Punjab University in Chandigarh in 1992. During his college years, he served as General Secretary of the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement, President of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and Vice President of the Foreign Students' Association in Chandigarh. Following his graduation, Yeshi taught at CST Paonta Sahib School for two years. He then worked as a researcher and translator at the Tibetan Affairs Monitor and Research Unit in Delhi for six years. Subsequently, he taught at Sera Jey Secondary School in Bylakuppe for seven years while also serving as Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and later as its Vice President. From 2007 to 2013, he was involved with CHOICE HIV/AIDS Initiatives as a board member, coordinator, and HIV trainer. He is also an independent researcher, producing papers and articles on Sino-Indo-Tibetan affairs. Yeshi was elected to the 15th and 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, serving two consecutive terms from 2011 to 2021. During his tenure, he was a member of the Standing Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, actively participating in two World Parliamentarians Conventions and the Tibetan Special General Meeting, among others. Additionally, he served as the Tibetan Settlement Officer for Lugsam Tibetan Settlement in Bylakuppe for one year.

Source: tibet.net

Nangsa Choedon - Additional Election Commissioner

Nangsa Choedon, born in 1954 in Kyirong (Ch: Jilong), Tibet, is a seasoned Tibetan administrator and former Secretary of the Central Tibetan Administration. She holds a Master's degree in International Public Administration. She completed her primary and secondary education at Sambhota Tibetan School in Mussoorie (then called Central School for Tibetans) and pursued higher education at Punjab University. Her career in the Central Tibetan Administration began on 1 July 1977 as an English Secretary at the Paonta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement Office, starting in the position of Junior Clerk. From 1978 to 1990, she served as Accountant cum Office Secretary at the Chauntra Nangchen Tibetan Settlement Office, holding the position of Senior Clerk. After being promoted to Under Secretary, she took on the responsibility of Tibetan Settlement Officer of Bir Boetsog Tibetan Settlement (also known as Bir Tibetan Society) from 1990 to 1993. From 1993 to 1997, Nangsa Choedon served as Planning Officer and head of the Scholarship Section of the Department of Education. During this period, she was promoted from Under Secretary to Joint Secretary. Between 1997 and 1999, she furthered her studies in the United States through the Tibetan Fulbright Scholarship Programme. After returning to the CTA in November 1999, she continued her service at the Department of Education until her appointment as Secretary of the Public Service Commission in 2004. Following ten years of service at the Public Service Commission, she was appointed Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Africa at the Office of Tibet in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2014. On 1 January 2017, she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education. After more than 40 years of dedicated service to the Central Tibetan Administration, she retired on 1 July 2017. She currently serves as Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project, a non-governmental organisation, and was elected as Additional Election Commissioner during the tenth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

Source: tibet.net

Tsering Youdon - Additional Election Commissioner

Tsering Youdon was born in 1963 in Dehradun, Northern India. She completed her primary and secondary education at SFF/CST Herbertpur and pursued secretarial studies in Bangalore. She holds a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Mysore. From 1982 to 1991, Tsering Youdon worked at MYRADA, a non-governmental organisation in Mysore, serving as a secretary for three years, a project manager for another three years, and then working in the computer and sponsorship sections for the remaining three years. Between 1991 and 2000, she served as Project Officer at Rabgyeling Tibetan Settlement in Hunsur. During this period, she was actively involved in local governance and community organisations. She was a member of the local Tibetan Election Commission from 1991 to 1994 and again from 1998 to 2005. She chaired the local Tibetan Women's Association from 1995 to 1997 and served as President of the regional Domey Association's executive committee for three years. Her career also includes serving as Chair of the local Parents' Association from 2001 to 2004, as well as being an executive committee member of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress for two terms. In the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, she served as cashier from 2001 to 2004 and later as Vice President starting in June 2004. Known for initiating and implementing innovative activities with notable success, she was elected in April 2005 as Director of Rabgyeling Settlement's Cooperative Society by the residents. From 2006 to 2021, Tsering Youdon was elected for three terms as a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. On 18 September 2025, she was elected as Additional Election Commissioner by the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile during its 10th session.

Source: tibet.net

Lobsang Choedak - Secretary of the Election Commission

Lobsang Choedak joined the Central Tibetan Administration on 11 February 2003 as Under Secretary at the Tibetan Settlement Office in Dharamshala, where he served as secretary of both the Settlement Office and the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association. After completing his probation period, he was made a permanent staff member on 30 August 2003, continuing in the same role. On 17 February 2006, he was transferred to the Paonta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement Office and then to the Department of Information and International Relations on 20 January 2007. At the Department of Information and International Relations, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary on 21 January 2009 and later to Joint Secretary on 9 September 2013. On 1 January 2017, he was transferred to the Office of Tibet in Japan (the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet House). On 17 August 2020, he was promoted to Additional Secretary and transferred to the Kashag (Cabinet) Secretariat before being appointed as the Secretary of the Election Commission on 2 December 2024.

Source: tibet.net

Charter of the Tibetans in Exile

The Charter of the Tibetans in Exile is the supreme law governing the functions of the CTA. It was drafted by the Constitution Redrafting Committee and referred to the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for approval. The parliament, in turn, adopted the Charter on 14 June 1991.

Based on the spirit of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter guarantees to all Tibetans equality before the law and enjoyment of rights and freedom without discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, language and social origin. It provides for a clear separation of power among the three organs of the administration: judiciary, legislature and executive.

Before the Charter came into being, the Central Tibetan Administration functioned roughly along the lines of the draft democratic constitution for future Tibet, promulgated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 10 March 1963.

Over the years, the charter was amended on a regular basis. After the devolution of political leadership by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Charter was yet again amended accordingly to distribute the powers within the three bodies i.e Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.

On 14 March 2011, amendment to the Charter was made where His Holiness devolved the full political authority to the popularly elected leadership- Sikyong. The English version here is the official translation approved during the 10th session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

For the official Tibetan version of the Charter, please visit tibetanelection.net

Eligibility Requirements for Sikyong Candidate

• Candidate must be a citizen of Tibet
• Candidate must have completed 35 years of age
• Candidate must not be declared mentally unsound either by a qualified doctor or court of law
• Candidate must not have unsettled public dues or debt
• Candidate must not be a convict or found guilty by the court of law
• Candidate must not be declared disqualified to be Sikyong or Kalon by two-third majority of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
• Candidate must not be the Sikyong or Kalon in service for 2 consecutive terms.
• Candidate must not had been impeached as Sikyong or Kalon according to Article 29 (3a) and 4.
• Candidate must not be entrusted with task, entitled with any rank or position, granted with cash or kind by any other country to harm or work against the interest of Tibetan people.
• Candidate must not be an official of CTA
• Candidate must not have violated the Election rules and regulations passed by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
• Candidate must not be someone who have no faith and trust in the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile and he or she mustn't be the one who has been proved to be working against the Tibetan cause directly or indirectly.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Eligibility Requirements for a Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile

• Candidate must be a citizen of Tibet
• Candidate must have completed 25 years of age
• Candidate must not have been declared mentally unsound either by a qualified doctor or court of law
• Candidate must not have unsettled public dues or debt
• Candidate must not be a convict or found guilty by the court of law
• Candidate mustn't be CTA employee. CTA employee refers to permanent staff, contractual staff or special appointee of any office under the jurisdiction of CTA. If any of these staff happens to be a nominee and wishes to stand in election, he or she must have resigned from the current post.
• Candidate must not be entrusted with task, entitled with any rank or position, granted with cash or kind by any other country to harm or work against the interest of Tibetan people.
• Candidate's nomination mustn't be against any electoral rules finalised by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
• Candidate must have full faith and trust in the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile and he or she mustn't be the one who has been proved to be working against the Tibetan cause directly or indirectly.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Guidelines for the Candidates

• Candidates for the election of Sikyong and the 18th Tibetan Parliament in Exile cannot use pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan national flag, the emblem of the Central Tibetan Administration and map of Tibet, for their election campaign.
• By adhering both in letter and spirit to the Charter and the Election Rules and Regulations, CTA, candidates must strictly follow the model code of conduct and guidelines issued by the Election Commission for the electoral process.
• Although candidates may conduct their election campaigns through speeches, correspondence, publications, and personal websites, they cannot make personal criticisms, actions causing discord, religious and regional divisions, bribery, or any form of inducements.
• The fundamental rights of individual voters must be protected. Exerting coercion or pressurising someone to vote or not to vote is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, no candidate, supporter, or anyone may solicit support or assistance related to election matters from official staff of the Central Tibetan Administration, particularly election officials, by exploiting their positions or seeking favour.
• Candidates are not allowed to disseminate false information or distribute materials about the electoral procedures of the Central Election Commission to the public or media outlets.
• Candidates must respect the local laws of their respective places of residence. Those candidates based in politically sensitive regions must exercise caution and vigilance. They must comply with guidelines of the Election Commission. In particular, candidates and their supporters must not cause obstructions or hindrance to campaign events of other candidates.
• As stipulated in Article 24 (7) of the Election Regulations, all provincial or regional associations, religious institutions and NGOs are prohibited from releasing nominations and endorsing candidates for the elections of Sikyong and members of Tibetan Parliament.
• Campaign materials such as announcements, leaflets, and banners for any candidate must clearly display the name and address of the person responsible for printing these materials.
• In accordance with the electoral rules and regulations, no electoral campaign activities are allowed in schools.
• Candidates must remain vigilant against disinformation and rumors on social media platforms etc.
• Candidates must inform the Regional Election Commission for any election campaign activities that they undertake in their respective areas.
• Candidates may carry out campaign activities during both preliminary as well as final elections. However, in accordance with Article 24(7-b), they shall cease their campaign activities two days prior to the election day until the announcement of the results.
• As specified in Article 16 (5) of the Election Rules and Regulations, disputes related to local election matters must be investigated and resolved by the Regional Election Commission. Therefore, individual candidates or their supporters may approach the Regional Election Commission to resolve disputes, rather than directly approaching the Central Election Commission. However, if anyone is dissatisfied with the judgment of the Regional Election Commission, they can appeal to the Central Election Commission.
• If anyone is found guilty of violating the above-mentioned guidelines, penalties will be imposed in accordance with the severity of the violation as per the provisions of Article 25 of the Election Rules and Regulations.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Voter Qualifications

Who can vote:

• A Citizen of Tibet who has completed 18 years of age
• A voter should not have violated any law enshrined in the Charter of Tibetan people in exile
• Should have already registered as a voter

People who are deprived of voting rights and cannot register to vote:

• Who is not a citizen of Tibet and who has not reached the voting age
• Who has been declared as mentally unsound by the doctor or court of law
• Whose right to vote has been disenfranchised by the court of law for breaching election rules and regulations
• Who hasn't paid the green book dues up to date

Source: tibetanelection.net

Voter Assistance

Voters with disabilities, who cannot write or tick the candidate's name and illiterate voters can bring their trusted company to the polling booth to help them cast their vote during the preliminary election. However, at the time of final election, only visually impaired people and those whose both hands are impaired can bring their company to the polling booth. Illiterate voters cannot bring in their company to help them vote. Those who accompany voters with disabilities cannot help more than one person. But, they can help more than one illiterate voter and voter with disabilities belonging to the same family.

Source: tibetanelection.net

Composition and Number of Chithues

• 10 members each elected from the three provinces of Tibet with a minimum of 2 women candidates from each regional constituency.
• 2 members each from the four Buddhist schools namely, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya & Gelug and Bon religion.
• 2 members elected by Tibetan community in North and South Americas
• 2 members elected by Tibetan community in Europe and Africa
• 1 member elected by Tibetan community in Asia (excluding India, Nepal & Bhutan) and Australia.

The total number of members of Parliament should be 45. Tibetan people living in foreign countries (excluding India, Nepal & Bhutan) cannot either stand in election or cast vote for provincial and religious elections.

Source: tibetanelection.net