Election Commission wants room for multiple wives’ names in voter registration form

The commission also mulls the inclusion of nicknames

The Election Commission, or EC, wants to include space for multiple wives’ names on the voter registration form.

ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the commission’s National Identity Registration Wing, told journalists on Monday that the second wife or more than one wife's name should be included in the form.

He argued, "Sometimes the second wife comes and demands their names to be added to the database. But we can't do it on our own.

"If we can keep the multiple wives’ names, if any, in form no. 2, and if we can or try saving names in advance, then the problem will be resolved."

Citing Sunday’s meeting of the Registration Division, Humayun said: "Initial discussions have been held on whether to keep it in form no. 2.

"We can include the names of more than one wife if the Election Commission or higher authorities of the Secretariat approve it."

About the nickname, the director general said: "Plenty of requests for corrections have been made. Many times we don't find nicknames there as the issue remains unsolved.

"Our initial thought is, since many people use nicknames separately, if we can take the nickname in form no. 2, to ease the process of identifying people."