The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) hereby notifies the general public of the Poll Day arrangements and the No Campaign Period and Exit Poll restrictions applicable to the ongoing Dzongkhag Thromde Tshogde Elections, 2026 in Phuentshogling and Thimphu as follows:
Part A: Poll Day
Poll Day is on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, with polling from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Voters must bring their original Citizenship Identity Card (CID) or Voter Photo Identity Card (VPIC) for identity verification at the Polling Station.
Poll Day is a Public Holiday under Section 329 of the Election Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008 and all offices and businesses are reminded to remain closed. Pursuant to Section 338, employers are reminded that leave of absence for a reasonable period for an employee to vote in the election must be granted, except where the employee’s absence would endanger the employment in which he/she is engaged (Section 339). Employers contravening Section 338 are liable to the offence of violation under Section 342.
Part B: No-Campaign Period and Exit Poll
Pursuant to Section 305 of the Election Act, 2008 and the Forty-Eight Hour No Campaign Period before Commencement of Poll and the Poll Day Rules, 2018, the No-Campaign Period shall commence from 8:00 a.m. on 13 July 2026 to the close of poll at 5:00 p.m. on 15 July 2026.
During this period no person shall publish, broadcast or transmit any material on any media platform that may be construed as election campaigning, or that supports or opposes any candidate; the authorized campaign materials may remain in place provided they are not located within 100 Metres of a Polling Station, and no new or additional material may be displayed; and no person shall arrange, organize, conduct, undertake, issue, release, announce or finalize any public activity, event or official decision that has the potential to influence voters in favour of or against any Candidate or be exploited for electoral gains.
Further, pursuant to Section 343 of the Election Act, 2008, no person shall broadcast, telecast or publish, before the close of poll, any statement or news relating to the manner in which voters have voted, or any forecast or prediction relating to the probable result based on information provided by or obtained from voters or observers; nor shall the result of any opinion survey or exit poll be published, publicized or disseminated by any media. Any contravention to the above provisions shall be dealt in accordance with the Electoral Laws.
The ECB seeks the support and full cooperation of everyone for compliance to this notification and urges all registered voters of Phuentshogling and Thimphu to come out and vote on 15 July 2026.
Issued on the 26th Day of the 5th Month of the Fire Male Horse Year, corresponding to 10 July 2026.
Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan
