Bhutanese will take part in the final dummy run to familiarise themselves with democratic values as the second round of mock polls take place on Monday.
THIMPHU: Bhutanese will take part in the final dummy run to familiarise themselves with democratic values as the second round of mock polls take place in the Himalayan kingdom on Monday.
"The stage is set," Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said.
"Re-arrangement of polling stations have been carried out on the basis of the feedback from the officers who supervised in the first round of mock elections (on April 21)," he said.
"Computers will be used in polling stations for quick checking of names of voters. Voting would begin at 9 am in all the 47 parliamentary constituencies and end at 5 pm. Counting of votes would begin soon after," Wangdi said.
"The first round of polls had generated considerable awareness and interest among our people."
In the first round, 124,747 votes were cast at 869 polling stations in the 47 constituencies. Four dummy parties were created for the drill -- Druk Blue Party, Druk Green Party, Druk Red Party and Druk Yellow Party.
With 44.30 per cent of votes polled, the Yellow Party, which stood for "ensuring unity of the country through preservation of traditions, culture and values", won the elections while the Red Party, espousing free and fair government, came second with 20.38 per cent.
Both parties will lock horns on Monday.
"A majority of voters have preferred the country's unity through preservation of traditions, culture and values," Wangdi said.
The dummy runs are being held to test run Bhutan's election machinery and procedures and to give hands-on training in conducting polls to officials.
In view of Monday's polls, shops and business establishments will remain closed.
"Polling teams and security personnel have already reached the booths," the poll chief said.
Two officers of the Election Commission of India --G K Dwivedi and Krishna Kumar -- and three UN officials will supervise the polls as international observers.
The landlocked nation's transition from absolute monarchy began in 2001 when former King Jigme Singye Wangchuk handed over the powers of daily governance to a council of ministers.
In December last year, he abdicated the throne in favour of his son Jigme Khesar. The first general elections will be held next year.
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