The Election Commission (EC) has initiated a strategic ‘mock voting’ exercise today, Saturday (29 November), at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls’ High School in Dhaka. This experiment aims to test the feasibility of holding the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a National Referendum simultaneously. The trial voting commenced at 8:00 am and is scheduled to continue until midnight. A diverse group of 500 voters, comprising both men and women, are participating in this landmark rehearsal.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed explained that conducting a general election alongside a referendum is a complex undertaking that requires meticulous planning. He noted that the results of today’s mock vote would provide crucial data for future decisions, such as whether to increase the number of polling stations, the requirement for additional booths or manpower, and identifying areas where coordination needs improvement. The primary focus of this exercise is to assess time management for voters and the overall handling of ballot papers for two separate processes on the same day.
The Commission has ensured an inclusive representation of voters for this trial. Participants include senior citizens, slum dwellers, university students, members of the transgender community, persons with disabilities, and voters from the Election Training Institute (ETI) projects. The Regional Election Officer of Dhaka is serving as the Returning Officer, supported by six presiding officers, ten polling officers, and twenty staff acting as polling agents to replicate a real election environment.
To maintain transparency, the international organisation ‘International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ (IFES) is monitoring the proceedings. Domestically, observers from the Bibi Asia Foundation and Beyan Moni Society are also on the ground. Experts suggest that if this dual-voting system is successfully implemented, it could significantly reduce state expenditure and time. Therefore, today’s mock exercise is a vital stepping stone towards reforming the country’s electoral process and ensuring its future efficiency.
GLIVE/TSN