EC Extends Voter Registration to 30 November

By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 6 Nov: The Election Commission(EC) of the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA) has extended the deadline for voter registration for the 2025 – 2026 Sikyong and the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile to 30th November 2025, from the initial deadline of 8th November, following numerous appeals from Tibetan settlements to the Election Commission.

The EC of the CTA, in an official notice issued on Tuesday, announced that the extension was granted in response to widespread appeals from Tibetans residing in settlements who are currently engaged in the winter sweater business outside their settlements.

The EC stated that the extension was made in accordance with clause 1 of Article 20 of the Election Rules and Regulations, which allows individuals who miss the initial voter registration deadline to still submit their names within 14 days of the deadline. 

For those who have not yet registered, note that if you have previously registered to vote in your local area and intend to vote from the same location, you do not need to register again, provided that your Green Book is still valid. However, individuals voting for the first time, as well as those who voted from a different location in the previous election, are required to register their names in the electoral roll of the constituency from which they intend to vote in the 2026 General Election.

Meanwhile, several Tibetans have also appealed for a postponement of the preliminary election scheduled for 1 February 2026, explaining that many local members involved in the election committee are away for the winter sweater business during this time. They argued that this makes it difficult for the committees to carry out the election process, which  requires a unanimous or two-thirds majority decision.

However the EC has declined the request, citing clause 6 of article 16 of the Election Rules and Regulations, which mandates that the established election schedule must be adhered to regardless of any local holidays and other activities. 

The winter sweater business serves as the primary source of income for the majority of Tibetan refugee families in India. Lasting for about six months, it typically begins in September each year, when Tibetans from refugee settlements across the subcontinent set out to engage in this seasonal trade to earn their livelihood for the rest of the year. The business typically concludes around February, coinciding with the approach of the Tibetan New Year, Losar.