Election Commission mulls proxy voting for Bangladeshis abroad

The Election Commission is considering the use of proxy voting as a method to enable expatriate Bangladeshis to cast their votes.

Even though there was no interest in the postal ballot system for expatriates, the idea of testing online voting was being considered.

The next step will involve consultations with experts to determine whether the method can be successfully implemented.

On Monday, a presentation regarding the proxy voting system for Bangladeshis abroad was made at the Election Commission.

The session was attended by the chief election commissioner, along with four election commissioners, the Election Commission secretary, and officials from the National Identity Registration Wing, or NIDW.

Election Commission Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, also the head of the Committee on NID, Voter List and Application Information Technology Committee, was present at the meeting.

After the third commission meeting on Jan 30, the commissioner said they had discussed ways to simplify the voting process for expatriate Bangladeshis.

To explore practical solutions, a technical committee was formed, with Rafiqul Hoque, system manager at the ICT Wing of the EC Secretariat, as its head, and Abdul Momin Sarkar, director (registration & expatriates wing) at NIDW, as the convenor.

This committee made the presentation on proxy voting for expatriates on Monday.

Momin said, "Everything can be arranged within the next 6 to 7 months. We will register proxy voters before the election schedule is declared.

“Considering the time needed for app development and registration, we believe proxy voting is the best option for expatriates as it is simple, cost-effective, and efficient."

Currently, there are over 123 million voters in Bangladesh, with an additional 3 million expected to be added within June.

Around 10 million Bangladeshis live abroad, many of whom are often unable to vote during elections.

Despite discussions on this matter for years, no tangible progress has been made.

However, the interim government has recently expressed interest in ensuring voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis.

The Electoral Reform Commission has also made recommendations on the issue.

In his address to the nation on Dec 16, 2024, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus expressed the intention to ensure expatriates could vote.

"We have heard assurances in the past, but we want to make this a reality during this government’s tenure, and we are committed to creating a reliable system for it," he said.

On Dec 18, two advisors pledged their full support to the Election Commission to guarantee expatriate voting rights.

However, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul commented that the responsibility largely lies with the Election Commission.

Amid preparations for the next general election, the Election Commission, led by AMM Nasir Uddin, continues to work on this.

INTEREST IN PROXY VOTING FOR ITS LOW COST, QUICK IMPLEMENTATION

NIDW Director Momin said, “This presentation is being made in the form of a follow-up meeting before the commission.”

“We have presented three systems to the commission—postal ballot, proxy, and online voting. Considering the timeline and management of all options, the commission is leaning towards proxy voting as the most applicable within a short period,” he added.

A workshop is planned for Apr 7 to gather further views on the matter, Momin said.

He continued, “Experts from Dhaka University, [Bangladesh University of Business and Technology], and other relevant institutions will provide insights on which method is viable.

“A thorough assessment will be conducted, and the commission will hold discussions with political parties. After that, the law will be amended.”

The official further said expert consultations and stakeholder meetings would take place before proceeding with procurement and pilot testing, after which the next steps would be determined.

HOW PROXY VOTING WILL WORK

>> The voter's name must be on the electoral roll

>> Registration must be done using the NID number

>> The Election Commission will develop an app

>> After registration, all procedures will be completed via the designated app without requiring assistance from any embassy

>> Direct voter-to-Election Commission process

>> Registration can be done from anywhere in the world

Election Commission officials said expatriates who wish to vote through this method must first register via an app using facial recognition.

Through pre-registration, they will express their interest in voting.

At the time of registration, they must provide the NID and details of the person who will vote on their behalf.

Once registration is completed, the Election Commission will inform the voter of the timeline, specifying who will be casting proxy votes.

A separate voter list for proxy voters will not be necessary.

Momin said, "The person who is designated as a proxy voter will cast the vote on behalf of the expatriate while also being able to cast their own vote. This is a form of power of attorney.

“Expatriates will register from abroad and designate someone from their electoral constituency as a proxy voter.”

“There will be an authentication process to ensure that the system is not misused,” he concluded.