EC Eyes Expat Electorate: Experts to Guide Voting Mechanism for Bangladeshis Abroad
In an effort to include expatriates in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh plans to consult the country’s top technology experts to determine feasible voting methods. Election Commissioner Md. Sanowallah shared this during a press conference at the EC’s media centre on Wednesday, April 9.
“Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus was the first to raise the issue of ensuring voting rights for expatriates,” said Commissioner Sanowallah. “The Election Commission shares this aspiration. After studying voting systems in 178 countries, we found that 115 countries have mechanisms in place to allow their expatriates to vote. The most widely used method is voting at embassies, followed by postal ballots and then online or proxy voting. In the context of Bangladesh’s wide diaspora, embassy-based voting is limited. Therefore, we have shortlisted three methods: postal ballot, online voting, and proxy voting.”
Each of these methods presents both opportunities and challenges. The EC held a workshop on April 8, where election, legal, technical, and electoral management experts discussed the issue. Representatives from institutions such as the University of Dhaka, BUET, MIST, and relevant ministries including the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications attended the workshop.
“We reviewed the pros and cons of the three shortlisted methods through ten presentations,” said Sanowallah. “Whichever method we adopt, it must be tailored to accommodate the spread and circumstances of Bangladesh’s expatriates.”
Responding to media queries, the commissioner added, “If our aim is to bring in the maximum number of voters, proxy voting seems to be the only viable option. While its drawbacks were discussed during the workshop, so were its successes—just like the other methods.”
Sanowallah also clarified that all types of voting would require online registration. “Whatever method we use, online registration will be mandatory. We will also need to verify whether the method is applicable in the country from which an expatriate wishes to vote,” he said. “Online voting would require more time to implement.”
He acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the need for progress. “To ensure voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis, we must adopt a viable method despite its limitations. Around 25 countries currently allow proxy voting. This is used for disabled individuals, hospitalized patients, pregnant women, students, prisoners, civil servants, election officials, and people residing abroad. Some countries such as France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK allow proxy voting for all citizens, while others limit it to certain categories.”
The commissioner stressed the importance of open dialogue: “We ensured that no one was influenced during the workshop. We wanted everyone to share their candid opinions.”
Although online voting has not yet gained global popularity, some countries have been testing it for the past four to five years. “The methods discussed in the workshop need fine-tuning. Our next step is to form an advisory team, comprising the experts from the workshop, to assess each method’s strengths and weaknesses and explore ways to address them. We will then consult with stakeholders. Whatever we implement must be customized within the available time frame. Without adequate time, implementation will not be feasible,” he said.
When asked how long the process might take, Sanowallah replied, “Until the system is developed, we cannot determine the exact duration. The Reform Commission has recommended postal and online methods, with a trial phase involving eight steps. But the length of this trial phase is yet to be defined. Only the technical experts can answer that.”
Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and Additional Secretary K.M. Ali Newaz were also present at the briefing.
