Bangladesh’s voter roll rises to 12.76cr

The Election Commission (EC) has released the third phase of the draft electoral roll, showing that the country’s total number of registered voters has now reached 12,76,12,384 (12.76 crore) ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the updated figures on Sunday, November 2, at the commission’s headquarters in the Election Building, saying that the draft will serve as the basis for the final voter roll to be used in the upcoming polls.

According to the EC data, Bangladesh now has 6.48 crore male voters and 6.29 crore female voters, along with 1,230 third-gender voters.

“The claims and objections process will apply only to the newly added names. The rest have already been verified,” Akhtar Ahmed said. 

He added that 13,04,880 new voters were enrolled between September 1 and October 31, reflecting a steady rise in youth registration ahead of the election.

The EC plans to publish the final voter list after reviewing all claims and objections, he said. “The upcoming parliamentary elections will be held using this updated voter roll,” the secretary confirmed.

Election analysts note that the steady growth in the electorate signals heightened political stakes for all major parties as they prepare for the February 2026 national polls, which Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has pledged will be held on schedule under the caretaker government’s supervision.

Officials said the EC is also working to enhance voter database security and accuracy, with biometric verification and digital updates now integrated into the system.

With the latest update, Bangladesh remains among the countries with one of the largest voter bases in South Asia, reflecting both demographic growth and expanding participation in the democratic process.