The Election Commission (EC) is organising a mock voting exercise today, apparently to gain practical field experience ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and the referendum, which will also take place on the same day.
The daylong activity will take place at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls’ High School in the capital from 8am to 12midnight. A total of 500 voters will take part in this mock voting.
EC officials said that senior citizens, slum dwellers, new voters, members of the third gender community, disabled voters, and employees of the Election Commission’s NID Wing, Election Training Institute (ETI) and various projects will cast their votes during the mock exercise.
The police, Ansar, RAB, BGB and the army will be deployed at the centre for the mock voting. Traffic police will manage traffic. Vehicles on designated routes will be kept ready to transport voters, and hired vehicles will also be available for this service.
Meanwhile, the entry of journalists and observers will be controlled using a QR code system. Light refreshments, including tea and coffee, will be arranged for VIP officials. There will also be hospitality arrangements for foreign guests.
Officials further said that the returning officer for the mock voting will be the regional election officer of Dhaka. From the EC’s officials, two assistant returning officers, six presiding officers, ten polling officers for five rooms, and twenty polling agents will be appointed. Additionally, international observers from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and two domestic observers from BB Ashia Foundation and Biyan Moni Society will be present.
Regarding the matter, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said as the parliamentary election and the referendum will be held on the same day, the EC wants to refine its experience in advance to conduct the entire process more efficiently.
The decisions on whether the number of polling centres needs to be increased, whether any adjustments are required, and whether the number of booths and staff should be expanded will be made based on the outcome of the mock voting, he added.
