Voter Registeration

The registration to vote for Chetue and Kalon Tripa officially ends in Mid August. The election commission in Dharamsala announced the dates of registeration period for two months. It begins in June and closes in mid August. I believe the current registeration proces is even though not the most effective, still every attempts are made to attract maximum voter registeration. The registeration period has extended compare to early registeration. Family members or a representative of a group can  register for their siblings or children who are absent at home. On top of that, Tibetan NGO, media and communities have announced the registeration period loudly and clearly.  Yet why there is such a lukewarm response to voter registerations? In Dharmsala, voter registerations were estimated around 75%, sometime ago. And it is hoped that other Tibetan settlement and communities in India subcontinent are seeing higher  voter registeration.


Voter registeration is a decisive indicator of people's participation in exile election. During early election, actual voters turnout are much less than the actual voter registeration. 2011 Kalon Tripa is a difinately not something that we can afford to ignore. It is a milestone political decision that carries the weight of 6 million Tibetan people's welfare and their future. Any one who is not registering to vote and therefore miss the opportunity to vote the 2011 Kalon Tripa and Chetue, lacks the moral authority to criticize our exile setup and government. Not only that, I personally believe not registering to vote for Kalon Tripa are the ones who also not paying the Annual Greenbook dues. Those Tibetan who made this annual voluntory pay for the exile government are proud of their alliagance and respect to their government, similarly those Tibetan who are neglecting to either register or pay the dues are disgracing themselves as a Tibetan nationals.

I dont want to go into details, as why we should be accountable for this annual due and its importance and symbolic message. But it is the only direct way of individual contributing for the Tibetan exile government and thus fulfilling ones small share of responsibilities. Unfortunately, many Tibetans in dispora are shunning this small personal contribution.

I have just returned from registering to vote for Kalon and Chetue. And learnt that Capital Area's Tibetan Association(CATA) has over 300 known members and not even half of them have registered to vote. CATA members have announced the registeration period and locations where they are waiting to help repeatedly. There are not many days left before the registeration period officially closes. It is extremely disappointing to realize the poor and pathetic state of Tibetan people's awareness in politics and their dedication and commitment to their government. If everyone pays for annual due and register to vote, nobody will go broke. It is only a matter of principle and generosity.

The number of registers have not reached  50% In Washington D.C areas. And in canada it is still worse state. Based on what the CATA members said, number of voter registerations among Tibetan nationals in Toroton, Canada are alarmingly low, as compare to their population.

Tibetan Woman's Association have set their target of attracting over 90% voters turnout for the Kalon and Chetue. While that is a good goal, they should have emphasized more to encourage more voter registeration.
As the exile government will host it first general meeting later this month in Bylakuppe, the most important two things that I believe should be raise and discussed at length should be Tibetan Green Book and stabilize the Tibetan settlement in India. As the exile government have invited Tibetan supporters and communities all over the world and, it is a good timing and platform to discusson on those two issues.

Without the continous of support Tibetan people all over the world through their generous contribution, the exile government probably have a hardtime to function financially independent.Exile governemnts needs Tibetan poeple's generous financial support.
Secondly, Tibetan settlements should introduce more pull factors for younger generations for the hope continunity to sustain our couse.