The young voters will play the main role in upcoming 12^th national polls, the election experts think.

Those people, who were about 8 years of age during national election of 2008, for example, now are matured person of 21. These voters will play the vital role in upcoming parliamentary election.

Besides, after the 9^th parliamentary election, in last 14 years, 372, 52, 815 people have been added to the voter list. The age of those voters are within 18 to 33.

According to the draft estimation of EC, up to 7 December, 2022, the number of voters in the country is 11, 83, 39, 818. Among them, voters of age from 18 to 21 are 66,38, 566, of age from 22 to 25 are 1,08, 07, 861, from 26 to 29 are 1,07,07, 534. Besides, voters of age from 30 to 33 are 1,06, 34,881, from 34 to 37 are 1,42, 18, 232, from 38 to 41 are 1,18, 68, 319, from 42 to 45 are 1,6, 76, 271, from 46 to 49 are 62, 61, 065, from 50 to 53 are 79, 72, 927, from 54 to 57 are 67, 29, 614, from 58 to 60 are 41, 09, 508 and voters from age over 60 are 1,77,15,039.

Already, the task of updating voter list has been completed. Now, the list is in cross-matching process and server of EC is getting updated every day. EC will publish draft voter list on January 15 next year by including new ones and excluding the deceased ones. Then, keeping in mind the demand and objection of voters, it will publish the final voter list on March 2, 2023.

According to the analysts, those people who have become voters after the 9^th national election can be regarded as young voters. After issuing the voter list including the photo of the voters in 2008, last 14 years saw an increase of voters by 3, 72, 52, and 815. During national election of 2008, the number of voters was 8, 10, 87, and 003, while, at present, its 11, 83, 39, 818 at present.

About the potential effect of the young voters in next parliamentary election, election commissioner Md Shahnewaz said, “In our country, the election is conducted in two to three phases and there has been no change in the process. However, the number of new voters was changed. And, the success of election will depend on how much the parties can attract new voters.”

General secretary of Shujan (Citizen for Good Governance), Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said, “The effect of young voters will be seen in next polls. Even, those who couldn’t able to give vote in election of 2014 and 2018 will play a vital role this time. In 2008, Awami League attracted young voters by issuing the manifesto of initiating change. Let’s see which party can attract more young voters in future.”

He said, “The youth of the nation gives importance to the things like quality of education and employment opportunity. Besides, steps of government in motivating the immigration-seeking youth to retain them in the country and creating suitable environment for that could play important role. However, AL has to give meaningful promise of holding free and fair election. The young people of the country could take the matter of not giving sufficient floor to the opposition and obstructing human rights seriously.”

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 15, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque