The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is set to amend postal ballot regulations following experiences from the recently held 13th parliamentary election. According to EC sources, the changes will remove the voter declaration form and the provision for multiple envelopes. These elements were found to compromise ballot secrecy, as the declaration form contained both the postal ballot number and the voter’s national ID, potentially revealing voting choices.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud confirmed that the EC is considering dropping the declaration form, noting that voter identity is already verified through registration with a photograph. He also said the number of envelopes used in postal ballots will be reduced. EC officials explained that, unlike regular ballots cast in secret booths, postal ballots could expose voter preferences due to the attached declaration form.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), welcomed the move, calling the declaration form unnecessary and a risk to voter privacy. He described the reform as a positive step toward protecting electoral confidentiality.