‘No’ vote returns for upcoming parliamentary elections

The ‘None of the Above’ or ‘No’ vote will be reinstated in the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah has confirmed.

The decision was taken during an adjourned meeting of the Election Commission (EC), held at the Election Building in Agargaon on Monday, August 11, under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.

Notably, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be used in the polls. Voting will continue to be conducted via traditional paper ballots.

The Commission has finalised the draft of proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and transparency. EC Sanaullah outlined key reforms, including:

Reintroduction of the ‘No’ vote, allowing voters to formally reject all candidates in a constituency—a provision last used in the 2008 general election. This marks a significant step toward enhancing voter autonomy.

The armed forces have been formally included as a law enforcement agency for election duty.

The EC retains the authority to cancel results in any or all of the 300 constituencies if the election process is compromised.

In constituencies with only one candidate, that candidate cannot be elected without receiving a valid vote – a safeguard against uncontested wins by default.

In the event of a tie in votes, the winner will not be decided by lottery. Instead, a re-vote will be held.

Alliance candidates will be elected under their respective party symbols, ensuring clarity in representation.

The Commission can investigate and cancel the membership of an MP even after the election if false information is found in their nomination affidavit.

The ‘No’ vote was first introduced in Bangladesh during the ninth National Parliament election in 2008 under Section 31(5)(BB) of the RPO. A dedicated box marked with an ‘N’ (for ‘None of the above’) was placed at the end of the ballot paper for easy identification. In that election, out of 69,759,210 votes cast, 382,437 were ‘No’ votes.

The return of this provision is widely seen as a move to empower voters and promote accountability, especially in constituencies where public dissatisfaction with candidates runs high.

The meeting was attended by Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmed, Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar, Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, and other concerned officials.

As the country prepares for elections in February 2025, the Commission continues to review and finalise reforms to ensure a fair, credible, and inclusive electoral process.