Electoral Process Archives | Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh

(a) Election expenditure to be capped at BDT 10 per voter per parliamentary constituency. (b) All election expenses to be processed through banking systems or financial technology platforms (e.g., Bikash, Rocket). (c) To maintain close oversight on election expenditures of candidates and political parties, the Election Commission to set up ‘election expenditure monitoring committees’ at the constituency levels. (d) Election expenditures iled by candidates and political parties to be subjected to auditing, the candidates’ election to be annulled in case of discrepancies. (e) All election related expenses of the Election Commission to be a charge on the consolidated budget of the Republic.

(a) To allow stationary observation, so that observers may remain at the centre throughout the day, but not inside the polling booth continuously. (b) Official permission to be granted to observer organizations for pre-election observation. (c) Fake and biased observers to be banned. (d) Appointment of individual observers to be allowed. (e) Election observation reports to be used to improve future elections. (f) To make the steps from the beginning to the end of appointing international observers clear for the concerned organizations. To appoint observers according to the decision of the Commission instead of the government. (g) Journalist with valid election commission-issued cards to be allowed to enter polling stations to document irregularities, and they be allowed to use motorcycles on election day.

(a) The proposed Election Commission Act to have provisions to ensure that offenses or irregularities committed by the Election Commission to be brought to justice. (b) By amending the relevant law, to retain the provision requiring the Commission’s permission to file cases against government officers and employees, and to remove the legal barriers to conducting an investigation or inquiry in this regard. (c) To relax the prescribed time limit for filing cases under sections 73 and 74, in section 90 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. (d) A time limit to be set for the disposal of electoral offense cases to expedite the length of adjudication and ensure timely justice.

(a) All Bangladeshi expatriates to be registered in the electoral roll and NID server as soon as possible. All biometric information and recent photographs to be updated during the registration process. Given that the current expatriate registration methods are time-consuming, effective strategies to optimize and accelerate the process to be identified and implemented. Since all Bangladeshi expatriates possess passports,information stored in the passport database to be utilized to expedite the registration. (b) If the next national election is to be held in December 2025, expatriates who can be registered in the voter list and NID server by October 2025 to be given the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election through the proposed postal voting system.

(a) An ICT-mediated postal voting system is proposed by the Electoral System Commission to ensure transparency for expatriates. Two potential solutions are suggested in the final report. Any one solution to be selected for implementation. (b) To implement the proposed ICT-mediated postal voting system, two mobile applications “Voter App” and “Verifier App” to be developed with appropriate functionalities. These applications to be developed for both Android and iOS platforms to ensure accessibility. Additionally, a backend system to be developed for the proposed system. (c) Security of the developed mobile applications and the system to be ensured such that the data can be securely transmitted and stored in the database. This to include an access control system and immutable audit trails to ensure database security. (d) The proposed system to undergo extensive testing before being used in national elections. A three-phase trial is recommended to identify and rectify any anomalies, ensuring the system’s reliability. (e) Continuous security audits of the developed system to be conducted through one or more internationally recognized security audit firms. This will be essential to build trust in the system. (f) Training for all individuals involved in the process to be provided to ensure the efficient use of the new system. (g) The proposed ICT-mediated voting system to consider also the cases of voters residing in countries without any Bangladeshi consulate. A policy to be developed to designate a consulate as a focal point for such countries. (h) To reduce the logistical workload of consulate officials in distributing postal packages to expatriate voters, each postal package to be prepared in Bangladesh and then distributed to consulates. Consulate officials to then use the local postal service in their respective countries to deliver the packages to expatriate voters. (i) An effective timeline to be established to complete all activities related to the postal voting, from registration to securely storing election-related ballots in treasury vaults, in all constituencies. (j) Although the proposed system is designed for expatriate voters, it may be adapted for domestic absentee voters with minimal modifications. However, concerns about the reliability of the postal service in the country pose a significant challenge. To address this, a reliable courier service capable of tracking postal packages to be used to deliver the packages to voters and later return them to the returning officers.

To prevent uncontested candidates from winning elections and to encourage political parties to nominate competent candidates, a “no-vote” provision to be introduced in the ballots of parliamentary elections. Re-polling will take place in those constituencies where no-vote receive highest number of votes with the condition that no candidate from the annulled election may contest in the re-election.

Re-elections to be held in constituencies where less than 40% of the electorate have cast their vote.

For the purpose of elections, the defense forces to be included in the definition of law enforcement agencies.

Any misinformation or deliberate omission of information in the affidavits and tax returns to result in disqualification to be a candidate for Parliament or remain as a member of Parliament.

Information on assets held within and outside the country to be added to the affidavit. Affidavit and income tax returns of the candidates to be circulated so that voters can take informed decisions regarding candidates.

Total Reforms Being Tracked

31

13

Reform Proposed

The reform idea or commitment is publicly articulated.

01

Reform Initiated

Preliminary steps are taken (e.g., circulars or notices by relevant...

07

Legal and Policy Framework

The reform is codified in policy, law, or regulation.

06

Operationalisation

Institutional or administrative mechanisms are established for the reform delivery.

04

Action Implementation

Tangible actions showing visible progress or outcomes are taken.