Dharamshala — The Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced the final results of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) election, on Wednesday. 17 of the 45 newly elected members of the 18th TPiE were first-time MPs. A total of 41,638 people voted in the election, out of a total of 91,073 registered voters.
Chief Election Commissioner Lobsang Yeshi, Additional Election Commissioner Tsering Youdon and Additional Election Commissioner Nangsa Choedon of Election Commission held a press conference at the Lhakpa Tsering Hall, Department of Information and International Relations, CTA, Gangkyi, Dharamshala, on May 13, 2026 to announce the result of the Final Election of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
Lobsang Yeshi said that the preliminary election was held on February 1, 2026, and the final election on April 26, 2026. A total of 1,737 election officers worked at 309 polling stations across 27 countries. Voter turnout in the preliminary election was 56.25% (51,140 voters), and 45.71% (41,638) people voted for the 18th TPiE out of a total of 91,073 registered voters. A total of 570 ballots were rejected as invalid during the counting process in the final round.
He said that the Election Commission was disappointed that only 45.71% of people participated in the final election, despite their attempts to encourage more people in countries where elections had never taken place before to exercise their right to vote for the MPs of the 18th TPiE and encouraged Tibetans to participate in the final election around the world.
Then the names and vote numbers of the members elected to the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile were announced. Of the 45 elected members, 17 were new MPs. Five were from the Kham region, four from the Amdo region, three from the Ü-Tsang region and one from the Bön religion. Two were from North America (including Canada), one from Europe and one from Australasia/Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan).
The five new members from Kham are Dawa Tsering, Ngawang Lodro, Kunchok Rinchen, Sangay Dorje and Gyaltsen Choekyi. The four new members from Amdo are Tenzin Palmo, Lharong, Lhamo Kyab and Ogyen Kyab. The three new members from Ü-Tsang are Gonpo Dhondup, Lhakpa Tsering and Lhamo Tsering. One new member from the Bon religion is Wari Tsering Tashi. Two new members from North America are Godruk Kelsang Phuntsok and Tseten Phuntsok. The one new member from Europe is Tenzin Yangkar and the one from Australasia/Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan) is Kelsang Tsering.
The Chief Commissioner said that, during this year's general election process, some members of the public have expressed concerns about the functioning of the Central Election Commission. In response to these concerns, the administrators would like to provide some explanations relating to our work. Since the start of the election process, various obstacles have arisen from both within and outside the Commission. However, the three Central Election Commissioners have acted with the utmost sincerity and without bias or hesitation in addressing any violations of the constitution and guidelines that have been discovered, focusing solely on the public interest. We have consistently taken appropriate action at every stage to ensure that the entire election process is conducted in accordance with the Constitution — freely, fairly and equally — and that it is carried out smoothly.
The 45 members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) are democratically elected by Tibetans living in exile around the world every five years.
The 45 members, including the 30 regional representatives (30 seats), are elected from Tibet's three traditional provinces: Ü-Tsang, Kham (Do-toe) and Amdo (Do-mey). Ten seats are reserved for religious representatives. Two members are elected from each of the four main Tibetan Buddhist schools (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug), as well as from the traditional Bön religion. Five seats are reserved for Tibetans around the world excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan. Two are elected from Tibetan communities in Europe, two from North America (including Canada), and one from Australasia and Asia (excluding India, Nepal, and Bhutan).
