EC to Provide Voter Turnout Updates Every Two Hours on Election Day
On election day, February 12, the EC has directed that voter turnout rates and the law and order situation at polling stations be reported to the Secretariat every two hours, starting from 7:30 AM until the announcement of unofficial primary results. This data will be collected and coordinated through Returning Officers.
The EC Secretariat confirmed that a dedicated internal network (Intranet) and the result management module of the 'EMS' (Election Management System) software will be utilized to streamline the process. Skilled data entry operators have been appointed under Assistant Returning Officers in every constituency. To avoid potential internet disruptions, officials have been instructed to use government-issued Grameenphone and Teletalk modems alongside local broadband connections. As a contingency, email will be used if the internal site encounters technical issues.
Following the close of polls, preliminary unofficial results will be gathered based on statements from Presiding Officers and submitted to the collection centers. From there, a signed 'Message Transmission Sheet' will be forwarded to the EC Secretariat by the Returning Officer. In unavoidable circumstances where the Returning Officer is absent, results signed by an Additional District Magistrate may be sent, though final results must bear the Returning Officer's certified signature.
To ensure uninterrupted communication, a sufficient supply of laptops, scanners, and printers has been secured. Officials were directed to verify all internal accounts and telephone numbers by today, February 10. Furthermore, data entry operators have received specialized training to ensure that results for both the Parliamentary Election and the Referendum are entered simultaneously but separately. Authorities believe this heightened surveillance will bolster voter confidence and minimize the risk of electoral fraud.
