Although the voter turnout may vary from place to place, thanks to campaigns initiated by various NGOs, the overall figure of registered voters is little higher this time than that of the last general elections.
Tibetans residing in India and various parts of the world today cast ballots in the primary polls to nominate candidates for the post of 'Kalon Tripa' (prime minister) and members of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has said in a message that he will not personally endorse a candidate of his choice and will stand by a popularly elected 'Kalon Tripa'.
Although the voter turnout may vary from place to place, thanks to campaigns initiated by various NGOs, the overall figure of registered voters is little higher this time than that of the last general elections held in 2006, according to the Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration.
This time, 79,449 people have registered to vote while in the last elections in 2006, 72,776 people had registered to vote and an estimated 26.8% actually voted.
The latest population census conducted by the Tibetan Planning Commission last year shows that a little over 89,000 out of 150,000 Tibetans approximately in exile are above the age of 18 and are eligible to vote.
Tibetans living in India, Nepal and Bhutan, North America, Europe and several countries across the world are casting their votes in the primary elections. The final round of elections will be held next year on March 20.
Among the settlements in India where voting took place were Dharamsala, Darjeeling, Dehradun, Delhi and Nainital.
In Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, 10 polling booths were set up in different locations.
In McLeodganj, the town in Upper Dharamsala known worldwide as "little Lhasa" due to the presence of the Dalai Lama where he has resided since fleeing Tibet in 1959, hundreds lined up since early morning to cast their votes in the courtyard of the main Tibetan temple (Tsuglag-khang).
As the voting continued, the special message by the exiled leader was played into loudspeakers. The Dalai Lama applauded the progressive steps taken by Tibetan exiles towards democratic process, while at the same time urging them to be prudent about the situation facing Tibet.
The 2011 general elections will decide the third directly elected Tibetan PM. It will also see the election of members who will form the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
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