UP elections: first phase to cover about 1,050 unions, no EVMs

The Election Commission (EC) is preparing to hold the first phase of union parishad (UP) elections in around 1,050 unions across the country. Akhtar Ahmed, senior secretary of the EC Secretariat, told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday (8 November). He said unions whose terms have already expired, and unions in Sadar upazilas, will get priority in the first phase.

Reports from several outlets show that the local government election timetable has changed more than once in recent months. Here is what is planned now, and what voters need to know.

What is happening in the first phase

The EC secretary said the commission is preparing for polls in slightly more than 1,050 unions in the first phase, and the phase-wise list of unions is being finalised. According to him, most of the country's roughly 4,500 unions that are due for elections will vote in the first two phases; the third, fourth and fifth phases will have fewer unions.

The Daily Star reported that the commission plans to hold the first phase on 21 January. The date is not final until the official schedule is announced.

What the earlier plan was

In September, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah shared a draft schedule for UP elections in 7 phases. According to BSS and other outlets, that draft set the first phase for 12 November, in about 80 upazilas. Tentative dates for the later phases were 13 December, 30 December, 17 January, 4 February, 22 April and 27 May.

At the time, the commission said that about 4,272 of the 4,580 unions needed elections soon, because the law requires polls within 180 days before a council's term ends. The schedule was later put under review after requests from several ministries and agencies. The EC then said everyone agreed the UP elections must be completed by 6 June. Students' annual exams and religious festivals are also being considered while drawing up the schedule.

12 November has passed without the first phase being held; reports say it is now moving to January.

No EVMs

The EC secretary made it clear that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will not be used in any upcoming election. The commission is taking a final inventory of the machines, and how they will be disposed of will be decided after the relevant recommendations arrive. In other words, UP elections will use paper ballots.

National ID data from age 6?

At the same briefing, the EC secretary mentioned another plan. The commission is considering building a national ID (NID) database from the information children give when they enrol in primary school, which would mean registering data from the age of 6. The idea is still under discussion and no final decision has been made.

What voters need to know

• You will know which phase your union falls in once the EC publishes the phase-wise list and schedule.
• Unions in Sadar upazilas, and unions whose terms have already expired, are more likely to vote first.
• Voting will be on paper ballots; there will be no EVMs.

Priyo News 24 will update this story with details once the schedule is announced.