As a young voter eagerly waiting in line in my comfortable attire to vote in the 13th national election in Dhaka-13, I faced a concerning situation this afternoon. Despite providing my voting serial number from the Smart Election BD app, a polling agent informed me that my vote had already been submitted by someone else.
Perplexed, the agent consulted with colleagues at the Lalmatia Government Women’s College in Mohammadpur, where my voting center was located. They confirmed that an individual had presented matching proof of identity and a striking resemblance to me based on my National ID (NID) photo.
After contacting the presiding officer, I was informed that I could not cast another vote, even though my identity was verified and I was the rightful holder of that specific serial number. Despite my inquiries for alternative options, no solution was provided by the officer.
Upon seeking advice from a colleague, I learned about the option of a tendered ballot, which is a symbolic vote issued in such circumstances but does not contribute to the final tally. This process involves typical voting procedures like signing documents, stamping the ballot, and folding it, with the ballot being sealed in a separate envelope by the presiding officer.
While I could cast a tendered ballot to document my complaint, it would not impact the official results, as clarified by the puzzled presiding officer.
My experience was not unique, as another female voter encountered a similar issue at the center. Additionally, a male voter raised a concern that despite having a valid serial number through the app, his name was missing from the lists at the same center. Despite his brothers successfully casting their votes, he found his serial number linked to a different name, leaving the presiding officer with limited recourse beyond expressing regret.