Tibetans living in exile across the world are preparing to vote in the first phase of elections for Sikyong (leader of the Central Tibetan Administration) and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, scheduled for February 1. More than 91,000 Tibetan voters have registered in 27 countries around the world.

The Tibetan Election Commission has described the polls as a “unique election” due to their worldwide reach and symbolic importance in the Tibetan freedom movement.

Why are these elections being called unique?

Chief Election Commissioner Lobsang Yeshi said the elections stand out because they are not meant to govern a country but to strengthen the Tibetan struggle for freedom. “It is unique in the sense that it is going to be held in 27 different countries. And it is unique in the sense that we are not electing political leaders for the governance of a nation but we are trying to elect representatives so that they can lead the struggle for freedom of Tibet,” Yeshi told ANI.

Over 80 regional election commissioners, nearly 309 polling booths, and around 1,800 staff members, observers, and volunteers have been deployed globally to conduct the polls. Since this is the preliminary round, the final phase of voting will be held on April 26.

Will the Dalai Lama cast his vote?

Yeshi said the 14th Dalai Lama, who is currently in South India, may participate in the voting process as he has done in the past. “We are not very sure because right now he is in South India, but in the past he has participated in the elections so definitely we would provide the instructions to the regional election commissioner to make special arrangements for His Holiness,” he said.

Exiled Tibetans expressed strong enthusiasm for the elections, calling them a powerful statement of democratic values. Tempa Gyaltsen, an exiled Tibetan, said, “Despite being in exile, we have one of the most robust elections across the world. One day elections will happen in 27 countries across the globe and the Tibetans will be electing for their leadership so we are excited definitely. We are ahead of them (China) when it comes to democracy and to the rights of people and freedom. We are very ahead of Chinese government.”

Another Tibetan exile, Thubten, said the elections send a direct message to China. “People and the like minded institutions, they believe that CTA is a genuine and legitimate representative of the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet,” he said.

"So the things that we are following, the outcome of the election process would certainly be applauded by the Tibetan people inside Tibet and then the leadership that we have in-exile is being followed by the Tibetan people inside Tibet so certainly it sends a strong message to the Chinese government that however, they tried to suppress the voices inside Tibet but their hearts and minds will always be with the his Holiness the Dalai Lama and also with the Central Tibetan Administration," Thubten added.