By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 2: The official results of the preliminary elections for Tibetan Prime Minister and the 16th Tibetan Parliament in Exile for North America has been released by the Office of Tibet, Washington, yesterday.
The North America vote count shows a comfortable margin of 63.5 % votes for incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, who also swept the polls in India and Nepal. The North America tally has Lobsang Sangay in the lead (3558 votes), followed by Speaker Penpa Tsering (1236 votes) trailed by Lukar Jam Atsok (610 votes), Tashi Wangdue (191 votes) and finally Tashi Topgyal (4 votes).
The total of 9803 people are registered to vote in North America which comprises of Tibetans in United States and Canada, yet only 5619 Tibetans (57 % turnout) showed up to vote on Oct. 18. Interestingly, the total number of people who voted in Sikyong ballot (5599 votes) is more by 20 counts of vote as compared to the official count of voter turnout figure (5619 votes). The difference of 20 votes may be attributed to nullified votes, although it has not been specified in the official statement.
Of the total of 34 cities across North America, Lobsang Sangay has won in 31. Incumbent Speaker Penpa Tsering has won in Washington DC and has tied with Lobsang Sangay in two cities in US (Albuquerque and Michigan). The lone Rangzen (Independence) candidate Lukar Jam Atsok although not winning in any city, has managed to come second to Lobsang Sangay in 5 cities across North America (Portland, Montana, Chicago, Charlottesville and Bellville).
The highest number of voters in all of North America is New York and New Jersey combined with 1559 votes and Toronto with 936 voters, yet the best voter turnout has been reported from Bellville, Canada enjoying 95% and Salt Lake City with 91% voter turnout.
The official website of the Office of Tibet, Washington, earlier showed a disparity of vote count figures in the Minnesota vote count which showed the total vote count to be 283 votes, yet the aggregate votes of all the Sikyong candidates is 572 votes. The website has since taken down the particular projection and the total vote count of Minnesota is left blank as of now.
Austin, Texas has 36 total votes against 35 registered voters and Ottawa, Canada has 47 total votes against 45 registered voters raising speculations of either double votes or clerical error.
In the Chithue (Member of Parliament) voting of North America, former MP, Tashi Namgyal has topped the race for 16th TPiE North America Chithue with 1242 votes, followed closely by a new entrant and finance specialist Tenzin Rangdol, who is also an independent candidate with 1223 votes. Pema Chagtzoetsang of Utah is third with 1194 votes.
