Prisoners to Vote via Postal Ballots, EC Issues Guidelines

Election Commission (EC) has introduced new guidelines enabling individuals in prison or legal custody to participate in the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election 2026 and the historic Referendum, which is scheduled for February 12 next year. 

Under the newly amended Rule 10A of the Election Conduct Rules 2008 (Amended 2025), these voters are eligible to use the ‘In-Country Postal Voting’ (ICPV) system to cast their ballots.

The directives, officially issued by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain and forwarded to the Inspector General of Prisons on Wednesday, specify that the enrollment process for incarcerated voters must be authorized by the relevant authorities. 

According to a government handout, this measure ensures that those in legal custody can effectively exercise their constitutional right to vote while remaining in detention.

This process is initiated via a dedicated portal (https://prisoner.ocv.gov.bd/login), where two nominated representatives from each correctional facility will manage the registration of interested detainees. Once the registration is complete, authorities must submit a signed and sealed printed list to the Election Commission while simultaneously uploading voter data in .xls or .csv formats to the designated portal.

Registered voters will receive a postal ballot package from the Commission containing two separate ballots for the general election and the referendum, detailed instructions, a declaration form, and a pre-addressed return envelope. The guidelines mandate that prison authorities ensure a suitable and private environment for the voting process. Unlike standard ballots, these postal papers will feature only the allocated symbols and blank boxes rather than candidate names; therefore, authorities are required to provide voters with the final list of candidates and their corresponding symbols for their respective constituencies.

To cast their vote, detainees will mark a tick (✓) or a cross (x) in the box next to their chosen symbol for the parliamentary election and next to the "Yes" or "No" options for the referendum. Voters must sign the declaration form with their name and National Identity Card (NID) number; if a voter is unable to sign, another voter may attest it on their behalf. After marking the ballots, the voter will seal them in two small individual envelopes, place those alongside the signed declaration into a larger yellow return envelope addressed to the Returning Officer, and deposit it in a designated secure box within the facility.

Upon completion of the voting period, prison officials are responsible for securely storing the envelopes and delivering them to the nearest post office. The postal service will then prioritize the delivery of these ballots to the relevant Returning Officers. Notably, all postage costs for this process will be fully covered by the Government of Bangladesh, ensuring that voters in custody can exercise their constitutional rights without financial burden.