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Despite the growing number of young voters, there's a concerning trend of declining voter turnout. The recent sixth upazila parishad election, overseen by Election Commissioner Alamgir, marked the lowest turnout in history. Only 36 percent of eligible voters participated across 139 upazilas in the first phase, with Kushtia Sadar Upazila recording the lowest turnout at a mere 17 percent. This decline follows a similar pattern observed in the 12th parliamentary election held three months prior, where 59 percent of eligible voters abstained. Moreover, 64 percent of voters abstained from participating in the upazila elections under the same commission. This alarming trend has sparked controversy among both local citizens and international observers, casting a shadow over the commission's credibility.
While last Wednesday's election didn't result in any loss of life, it was marred by numerous incidents, including fake voting, center seizures, cocktail explosions, and the arrest of election officials, along with violence against journalists. These events have shaken people's confidence in the country's election system and the Election Commission. Many citizens feel that voting is no longer conducted transparently as before, and that candidates are selected based on the ruling party's influence rather than the people's choice. The absence of major political parties like BNP from the polls has further discouraged participation, with their followers also staying away from polling stations. Opposition circles have accused the current election commission of favoring the government, raising concerns about its impartiality. At the field level, the roles of local administration officials such as DCs, SPs, UNOs, and OCs are crucial for ensuring an acceptable election. However, growing mistrust among certain segments of the population has led to decreased voter turnout. Additionally, the prevalence of money-driven politics has deterred qualified candidates from competing, further discouraging voter participation unless a suitable candidate is identified.
Upon examining the voting patterns, it's evident that along with the national elections, voter turnout in the upazila elections is also on the decline. This time, the voter turnout in the last five upazila elections hit a low of 36 percent. In the previous fifth upazila elections in 2019, the average turnout was over 41 percent. Comparatively, in the fourth upazila elections in 2014, the turnout was 61 percent, and it was 67.69 percent in the third upazila elections in 2009. However, specific data regarding the turnout in the second upazila elections in 1990 and the first upazila elections in 1985 is unavailable. Additionally, the 12th National Parliament election saw a voter turnout of 41.8 percent, while the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018, witnessed a significantly higher turnout of 80.20 percent, with 8 crore 35 lakh 32 thousand 911 voters exercising their right to vote. This indicates a notable decrease of 38.4 percent in voter turnout in the 12th National Parliament election. Observers attribute the declining voter turnout to weaknesses in government law enforcement and the Election Commission. Without restoring voters' confidence, there is a fear that future elections may see even lower participation.
Badiul Alam Majumder, the secretary of Citizen for Good Governance (SHUJAN), expressed that the public lacks confidence in the country's electoral system and the Election Commission, resulting in low turnout at polling stations. He attributed this decline to the erosion of electoral culture due to one-sided national elections.
Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Chairman of the Election Observer at National Election Observation Council (JANIPOP), stated that the issue of low voter turnout has become a national concern. He highlighted that the outcome of national elections inevitably influences local elections and emphasised the changing electoral culture. Kalimullah pointed out that many individuals are deterred from becoming candidates due to the considerable expenses and challenges involved, which in turn diminishes voter interest in participating at polling centers.
Former Election Commissioner Kavita Khanam remarked that voter enthusiasm to participate in elections has waned due to the absence of participation from all political parties. She noted that people's interest in voting has significantly declined, attributing this trend to multiple factors. However, she emphasised that a significant reason for low voter turnout is the absence of an inclusive atmosphere that arises when all parties participate in the elections. Khanam highlighted that since elections are not conducted with the involvement of all parties, voter turnout remains low.
Senior politician Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed expressed that people have lost trust in the current Election Commission, leading to decreased voter participation in elections conducted under its purview. He noted that a significant portion of the population abstained from voting in both national and local elections. However, Ahmed emphasised that the Election Commission alone cannot be held responsible for the low voter turnout; the roles of deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, upazila nirbahi officers, and officers-in-charge are crucial as well. He argued that these officials failed to gain the trust of the common people at the grassroots level, which negatively impacted the commission's credibility. Additionally, there is a perception among the public that the commission operates under the influence of the ruling government, further eroding trust in its impartiality.
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