Shock at Polling Booth as Woman Told Her Vote Was Already Cast

A routine visit to the polling station turned into a moment of heartbreak for an elderly woman in Pirgachha upazila on Thursday afternoon, when she was informed that her vote had already been cast in her name. The incident has sparked fresh concerns about electoral integrity and voter confidence at the Teani Moniram Government Primary School polling centre.

Nurjahan Begum, a regular voter who has participated in several national elections over the years, arrived at the centre shortly after midday with quiet determination. Like many citizens, she regarded voting as both a civic duty and a cherished right. However, upon entering the booth, polling officials informed her that her ballot had already been recorded. The revelation left her stunned.

Emerging from the booth in tears, she said that she had never faced such an experience before. For decades, she had voted without incident, but on this occasion she was told that someone else had voted in her name. “I came to cast my vote myself,” she lamented, her voice trembling with disbelief. “This has never happened to me in all these years.”

The distressing episode quickly drew the attention of other voters present at the centre. Whispered conversations spread across the premises, accompanied by visible anxiety and frustration. Several local residents alleged that irregularities had been taking place intermittently since the morning. According to witnesses, a number of voters were reportedly told that their votes had already been cast even before they reached the booth.

One resident, Jahurul Islam, expressed deep concern over what he described as a troubling pattern. He claimed that such incidents undermine public trust in the electoral process and discourage citizens from participating freely. Another voter, Rahima Khatun, questioned the very meaning of democratic participation if citizens are denied the right to cast their own ballots.

Responding to the allegations, Presiding Officer Mansur Hossain acknowledged procedural lapses. He stated that polling agents may have failed to verify voter identities accurately, leading to confusion and distress. He added that corrective measures were being taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and that the matter was being treated with seriousness.

Meanwhile, Assistant Returning Officer and Pirgachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Debashish Basak confirmed that the complaint was under review. He assured voters that a thorough inquiry would be conducted and that appropriate action would follow should the allegations prove true.

Although tensions rose briefly at the centre, the presence of law enforcement agencies helped to restore calm. Yet, the emotional impact of the incident remains significant. For many voters, the episode serves as a stark reminder that electoral credibility is not merely a matter of procedure, but of public trust—fragile, hard-earned, and easily shaken.

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