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Journalism of Courage
Bangladesh may introduce “no vote” option for the electorate during the Parliamentary elections if a draft ordinance prepared by the Election Commission is approved by the caretaker government. The EC is seeking to introduce an option of casting “no votes” for the voters in the parliamentary election with a provision for holding fresh polls to a constituency if fifty percent or more of the cast votes turn out to be “no votes”.
In the commission’s draft ordinance for promulgating new election laws, the election body is also seeking to introduce a provision of taking into cognisance the reports submitted by observers, for taking actions against any irregularity. “In light of the current reality, it is necessary to make new laws for holding elections,” says the draft ordinance. The EC is seeking opinions of parties. Once the proposal is made into a law, the Commission will print ballot papers with “none of the above” in a column as a option for the voters, the Daily Star reported .
