Who can vote in Bangladesh on Feb 12? Voter eligibility rules explained

Bangladesh is set to hold its 13th national parliamentary elections and a referendum on reforms on February 12, 2026, amidst a highly volatile political climate. With the once-dominant Awami League not participating in the upcoming elections and many voters feeling uncertain about their options, the Bangladesh elections are in for a political rollercoaster, one that’s rife with unpredictability.

More than 127 million individuals are eligible to vote in the February 12 elections, an electoral process that’s viewed as one of the most critical in decades and the first following the mass protests that ousted Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024.

Here’s a quick overview of who can vote in Bangladesh elections, along with the relevant voter eligibility rules.

Who can vote in Bangladesh elections?

Only Bangladeshi citizens who are 18 years old or older on the day of the election are eligible to cast their votes, as long as their names are included in the final voter list compiled by the Election Commission.

Every citizen eligible to vote under the Electoral Roll Act of 2009 has the right to obtain a National Identity Card of the specified class, following the prescribed procedures and upon payment of the required fees. The Bangladesh Election Commission will issue only one National Identity Card to each citizen. To receive the National Identity Card, each citizen must register their identity.

A significant reform for the upcoming general election is the implementation of postal voting for expatriates. For the first time, Bangladesh’s diaspora, which is estimated to be around 15 million strong, will have the chance to cast their votes from abroad.

Voter eligibility rules

According to Article 122 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Section 7 of the Electoral Rolls Act 2009, the qualifications for voter registration are as follows:

– The individual must be a citizen of Bangladesh;

– They must be at least eighteen years old;

– They must not be declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind;

– They must be a resident or deemed to be a resident of an electoral area.