Mock Voting to Be Held in Dhaka Today

With the plan to hold the thirteenth national parliamentary election and the referendum on the same day, the Election Commission (EC) has arranged mock voting in Dhaka to assess the effectiveness of the entire process. This trial voting will take place today, Saturday (29 November), from 8am to midnight at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls’ High School, with a total of 500 male and female voters participating.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that if the national election and referendum are to be held together, it is essential to test various preparatory steps beforehand. Based on the results of the mock voting, decisions will be taken regarding whether to increase the number of centres, where coordination is needed, and whether additional polling booths or manpower are required.

According to EC officials, senior voters, slum dwellers, students, members of the hijra community, persons with disabilities and voters from the Election Training Institute (ETI) project will take part in this trial voting.

The mock voting will be conducted under the supervision of the Returning Officer, who is the regional officer of Dhaka. He will be accompanied by two Assistant Returning Officers. Six Presiding Officers from the EC’s own staff will perform duties. Across five centres, ten Polling Officers and twenty officials will work as Polling Agents.

For observation, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will be present as a foreign organisation. Among domestic observers, Bibi Aciya Foundation and Biyan Moni Society will participate.

Khaborwala/TSN