EC Urges Citizens to Update Voter Information Online
The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has encouraged citizens to update their voter information online as part of its ongoing nationwide voter list update program. In a press release issued on Tuesday (January 28), EC’s Director of Public Relations, Md. Shariful Alam, urged eligible individuals to self-register by filling out their details online.
He stated, “The voter list update program started on January 20, with enumerators visiting households across the country. Those born on or before January 1, 2008, and who were previously excluded, can apply online by providing accurate information and necessary documents through this link. Applicants are requested to download their application copy and provide it to the enumerators to facilitate the data collection process.”
Md. Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC’s Election Assistance Division, announced that the photograph registration process will commence on February 5 and continue until April 11.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin said, “The registration process will be completed within the next six months, with 65,000 personnel engaged in the effort to include 1.52% of citizens in the voter list.”
As part of the final phase of the three-year voter data update initiated in 2022, approximately 1.8 million new voters are expected to be added by March. The most recent update revealed that the country’s total voter population stands at 121,850,160. Since introducing photo-enabled voter lists in 2007-2008, the EC has conducted six major updates, with the latest taking place during 2022-2023.
Documents Required for Voter Registration:
- A copy of the 17-digit online birth certificate
- Nationality/Citizenship certificate
- A photocopy of a close relative’s NID (father, mother, siblings, etc.)
- Copy of SSC/Dakhil/equivalent certificate or eighth-grade pass certificate (if applicable)
- Utility bill copy (electricity, gas, water, or chowkidar receipt)
Guidelines for Accurate Registration:
- Names (own and parents’) must exactly match the birth certificate or educational documents.
- Birthdates must align with the birth certificate or educational certificate.
- Permanent addresses must reflect the registrant’s actual permanent residence.
- Duplicate registrations are strictly prohibited under any circumstances.
In its statement, the EC warned that registering multiple times is a punishable offense under the law. “Fingerprints can easily detect duplicate registrations,” the notice added.
