EC Plans National ID for Under-16 Citizens, Launches Online Voter Transfer Service

The Election Commission (EC) is planning to issue National Identity (NID) cards to citizens below the age of 16 as part of a broader initiative to modernise voter registration and identity management. The commission has also introduced an online voter area transfer service and proposed several reforms to local government election laws.

Speaking to reporters after the 12th Commission meeting at the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday (21 July), EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission is reviewing whether personal data collection for NID registration should begin before the current minimum age of 16.

At present, biometric and personal data of citizens aged 16 and above are collected and stored in the NID database. Once an individual reaches 18 years of age, he or she is automatically included in the voter list, while the data remain dormant until then.

According to the EC, the data collection threshold may be lowered to the SSC, eighth-grade or even primary school enrolment stage. A final decision will be taken after completing the review.

The commission has also introduced an online system for voter constituency transfer applications. Applicants will be required to pay a prescribed institutional fee for the service.

For NID renewal, which is required every 15 years under the law, applicants will have to submit a designated form containing family tree information to facilitate identity verification and maintain data consistency. A renewal fee will also apply.

To reduce public inconvenience, authority to correct dates of birth based on public examination certificates such as PSC, JSC and SSC is being delegated to field-level offices instead of requiring central approval.

The EC is also simplifying voter registration for Bangladeshi expatriates. Under the revised system, biometric data collected abroad will be uploaded immediately, while final approval will be issued centrally after successful verification in Bangladesh, significantly reducing processing time.

Meanwhile, the commission has finalised a package of amendments to local government election laws. Under the proposals, MPO-listed teachers of private educational institutions will not be eligible to contest local government elections. Dual citizens, guarantors of loan defaulters and owners of bill-defaulter institutions would also be disqualified from running for office.

The proposed amendments also seek to include the armed forces within the legal definition of law enforcement agencies, allowing the deployment of the Army, Navy and Air Force during local government elections, subject to government approval.

The Election Commission is currently finalising the legal framework to begin local government elections from October, with Union Parishad and municipality polls expected to be held in the first phase.
//DBTech/DSB/SME//