Sikyong Penpa Tsering Wins Second Term in First Round: Secures Outright Victory with 61.025% of Votes
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 13 Feb: The incumbent Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Penpa Tsering, secured a second consecutive term by winning the preliminary round of the 2026 Tibetan general election with over 60% of the votes, thereby clinching the seat outright without the need for a final round.
In a press statement today at Lhakpa Tsering Hall, the Election Commission (EC) of the CTA, commonly referred to as the Tibetan government-in-exile, officially announced incumbent Sikyong Penpa Tsering as the next elected leader, having received a total of 31,325 votes, amounting to 61.025% of the total votes cast.
The EC clarified that the announcement was made in accordance with Article 64, Clause 4 of the electoral rules, which stipulates that a candidate securing more than 60% of the total votes in the preliminary election can be declared elected without proceeding to the final round.
Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, the runner-up, secured 17,843 votes, while Tsering Phuntsok placed third with 159 votes. In total, the EC reported that the public cast 103 names for the Sikyong candidacy.
Out of 91,042 registered voters, 51,140 participated in the preliminary election, marking a decline in voter turnout compared to the last election, which recorded 63,991 voters out of 83,080 registered in the final round.
The EC also announced that from February 15 to March 15, individuals who have newly attained the age of 18, as well as those who were unable to register during the preliminary phase, will be allowed to complete their registration.
In addition, the EC released the results of the preliminary election for the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE). Based on the highest number of votes received, 30 candidates were selected from each traditional province, alongside six candidates each from the five religious traditions, as well as representatives from North America, Europe, and Africa.
The EC has stipulated that candidates contesting in the final election for Members of the TPiE must, no later than February 27, submit the following documents: their full name (and any alternative names), date of birth, copies of the first and last pages of their Green Book, a brief biography of no more than 300 words typed in Tibetan using Monlam font size 14, and two recent half-length color photographs.
The final round of the 2026 Tibetan general election is scheduled for 26 April 2026, where exiled Tibetans will elect the 45 members of the TPiE: ten members each from U-Tsang, Do-tod and Do-med, the three traditional provinces of Tibet, two members each from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith, two members each from Europe and North America and a member representing Tibetans in Asia and Australasia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan).
