Election Commission weighs no holiday on vote days

The Election Commission (EC) is weighing doing away with the general holiday on election days, arguing it affects voter turnout.

Senior CorrespondentMoinul Haque Chowdhury, bdnews24.com
Published : 15 June 2015, 08:11 PM
Updated : 15 June 2015, 10:41 PM

But former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda has scoffed at the idea, dubbing it as “unrealistic”.

Voting days are public holidays in Bangladesh to facilitate balloting.

The country enjoys holiday during general elections, but in local polls, only areas where balloting takes place enjoy the facility.

Although there are no specific directions in the election law, the government announces public holidays at the EC’s request.

However, several election commissioners have advocated cancelling the holiday.

They argue that other countries do not declare holidays on polling days and voter turnout is low in Bangladesh as the voting day is a holiday.

Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz, who saw the UK polls last month, has already issued a note against polling day being declared a public holiday.

Another Commissioner Zabed Ali spoke about his experience during polls in the UK and Sri Lanka.

“The time has come to reconsider having holidays on election days,” he told bdnews24.com. “We’ll discuss the matter.”

He cited the recent polls to three city corporations and the Magura by-polls.

“The voter turnout is between 33 and 44 percent. It might have increased if they were not held on holidays,” he said.

Many prefer spending the day at home or visiting some place rather than vote, according to him.

Senior Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak agreed.

He pointed out that national elections usually took place either on Sundays or Thursdays, while Fridays and Saturdays are weekends.

Mobarak said there was no point in announcing holidays on polling days.

“There won’t be any problem if this system is scrapped,” he added.

EC officials say the movement of vehicles and people is regulated for 48 hours before and after the polls giving the feeling of a holiday.

“The matter will be included in the commission’s agenda soon,” an EC official said declining to be named. “We are readying the papers.”

But former CEC Huda is averse to the plan.

“It’s an absurd thought to cancel holiday on voting days,” he told bdnews24.com, adding people will likely oppose the move.

“They will force the restoration of the facility.”

Huda said voting days had always been holidays.

“How will voters go to vote if it’s not a holiday?” he asked.