The Election Commission (EC) has proposed an estimated budget of Tk2,800 crore for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, an increase of approximately Tk500 crore compared to the Tk2,276 crore allocated for the 12th general elections.
The EC Secretariat has submitted a budget proposal to the government for the fiscal year 2025-26, according to Additional Secretary KM Ali Nawaz.
Although the government has yet to announce an exact date for the elections, official sources indicate that the polls will take place either in December this year or by June next year, depending on political consensus over electoral reforms.
If reforms are prolonged, the elections will be held in June 2025; otherwise, a December 2024 poll is anticipated, prompting the EC to begin preparations accordingly.
Ali Nawaz stated that the EC has sought Tk5,500 crore for national and local elections, with Tk2,794.55 crore specifically earmarked for the parliamentary elections.
However, this is a preliminary estimate, subject to further scrutiny and adjustments following discussions with the EC secretariat.
According to EC sources, the commission currently faces a financial shortfall of Tk5,853 crore for conducting both parliamentary and local government elections. As a result, the EC has requested Tk5,921.72 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26, along with Tk2,829.45 crore for 2026-27 and Tk724.03 crore for 2027-28.
The proposed budget also includes allocations for voter list updates, national identity card printing and distribution, and election-related administrative activities.
For the upcoming fiscal year, the EC has sought Tk69.25 crore for voter list management, with Tk70.63 crore and Tk73.44 crore requested for 2026-27 and 2027-28, respectively.
The National Identity Registration Division's budget includes Tk70.80 crore for 2025-26, Tk33.58 crore for 2026-27, and Tk40.79 crore for 2027-28.
To bridge the funding gap, the EC has approached the finance and planning ministries, seeking additional allocations through projects such as the "Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services" and the "Use of ICT in Electoral Processes to Strengthen EC Capacity".
A review of past electoral expenditures reveals a steady rise in costs. The 12th parliamentary elections, held on 7 January 2024, had an estimated budget of Tk2,276 crore, with Tk1,225.62 crore allocated to security forces and Tk1,050.60 crore for election management.
In comparison, the 11th general elections on 30 December 2018 had a total budget of Tk700 crore, which was later increased.
The 10th parliamentary elections, held on 5 January 2014, incurred a total cost of Tk264.68 crore, with Tk81.55 crore spent on election management and Tk183 crore allocated for security.
That election saw voting in only 147 constituencies, while 153 seats were won uncontested, significantly reducing expenditure. In contrast, the 9th general elections, held on 29 December 2008, cost Tk165 crore.
As the nation awaits further clarity on the electoral timeline, the rising costs of election management underscore the growing financial burden of ensuring a credible democratic process.
