The Election Commission (EC) has changed its policy on establishing polling stations and booths for local government elections. Under the new directive, each polling booth can now accommodate a maximum of 600 male and 500 female voters.
The information was announced in an official gazette notification signed by EC senior assistant secretary (Election Assistance-3) Md. Rashid Miah on Thursday (July 9).
The new policy states that, on average, one polling station will be established for every 2,000 voters in general elections. The previous rule, which set separate polling booths based on lower voter numbers, has been revised.
Previously, a general election polling booth typically accommodated about 400 male voters and 300 to 350 female voters. Under the new rule, this has been increased to 600 for male voters and 500 for female voters.
The same rule will apply to by-elections. Previously, a by-election for a single post allocated 500 male and 400 female voters per booth. Now, both general and by-elections will follow the same standard of one booth per 600 male and 500 female voters.
The EC’s new directive further states that, to ease pressure on voters, multiple secret compartments or marking places may be set up within each booth as needed.
Additionally, under the previous rule, a polling station had to be established within the boundary of each general ward. However, provision has been made to set up multiple polling stations within the same ward based on local circumstances and needs.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report