The Election Commission (EC) sent a letter to regional, district and upazila election officers on Thursday on publishing the final voting center list on September 6 for the upcoming general election.
The letter says that the draft for the 11th parliamentary election voting center list will be published on August 5. The last date to claim and object will be August 19 and last date for disposal will be August 30. The final list of voting centers will be published on September 6.
Some EC officials said they need 40,000 voting centers for 104.2 million voters. According to EC policy, there has to be one voting center for every 2,500 voters.
Their policy further stipulates that setting up polling centers in institutions established by any candidate should be avoided.
However, different candidates have already complained about the selection of voting centers.
Sharif Md Forhad Hossain, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs said most of the voting centers from previous elections will be the same, except for those lost in natural disasters or to river erosion.
“We also have to make new centers because the number of voters has increased since the last election. Field officials will visit the centers before making a list. The initial draft list will be made after hearing local concerns before being finalized by the EC,” he said.
During the 10th parliamentary election there were 37,707 polling centers for 19.9 million voters and for the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections, the EC predicts the need for 40,000 centers for 104.2 million estimated voters.
