EC allows voters to change their voting area

The Election Commission (EC) has already published the draft voter list ahead of the 13th National Parliament elections. The final list will be published on November 18 after the claims and objections are received. Even if the names are not included in the voter list again, the EC has allowed voters to change their voting area.

If you want to change your address and transfer, you have to apply by November 10. Registration officers have been instructed to approve or reject the applications by November 17.

On Tuesday, a letter in this regard signed by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Nasir Uddin Chowdhury was sent to all upazila and thana election officers. A copy of the letter has been sent to all field-level officers including the EC Secretariat.

The letter regarding the settlement of voter transfer applications due to change of residence states that the Election Commission has approved a detailed schedule for submitting and settling the submitted applications for voter transfer due to change of residence before finalizing the voter list for the 13th National Parliament elections.

EC officials said that to change the voting area, Form No. 13 has to be filled and submitted to the concerned Upazila/Thana Election Office.

Meanwhile, in another instruction sent to the field level, it has been asked to settle the voter registration applications of expatriates by tomorrow, Thursday. A letter in this regard signed by the EC's National Identity Registration Division Director (Registration and Expatriates) Khan Abi Shahanur Khan was sent to all regional election officers, district and upazila election officers on Tuesday.

The letter said that the registration process of Bangladeshi citizens living abroad is ongoing. The applications of expatriates whose biometric activities have been completed can be found in the NRB menu of the CMS portal online application. The Upazila/Thana/Registration Officer will print the applied voter form and attached documents and complete the investigation on the spot.

The letter also said that the investigation report of the applications submitted by expatriates for voter registration till October 31 must be completed by November 6. However, if the documents are not attached with the application on or after September 1, those applications should be kept and the report should be mentioned as ‘Documents not attached’. If the documents are attached later, the investigation process should be carried out. After completing the investigation process, the report should be sent to the Director General, National Identity Registration Division through the Regional Election Officer as per the attached table.

The Election Commission is planning to announce the schedule in early December and hold the 13th National Parliament election in the first half of February next year.