Dual Ballots in Bangladesh: Voters Cast White for MPs and Pink for Historic Constitutional Reforms

Bangladesh is holding its 13th general election on February 12, 2026, marking the first parliamentary polls since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This election is unique as it combines voting for Members of Parliament with a simultaneous national referendum on constitutional reforms, known as the July National Charter. Voters receive two separate ballot papers: a white one for electing their local MP and a pink one for the referendum, creating a two-ballot system unprecedented in the country's history. The process aims to legitimize sweeping institutional changes while electing a new government, reflecting efforts to rebuild democracy after years of perceived authoritarian rule.

The two-ballot system requires each voter to cast votes on two distinct issues. The white ballot lists candidates and their symbols for the 300 directly elected seats in the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament), using the first-past-the-post system where the candidate with the most votes wins the constituency seat. An additional 50 seats are reserved for women and allocated proportionally to parties post-election. The pink ballot addresses the referendum, presenting a Yes/No choice on a package of reforms consolidated into four key areas. These include curbing executive overreach, imposing term limits on the prime minister, enhancing judicial independence, strengthening the Election Commission, expanding fundamental rights, and restructuring aspects of governance. Holding both votes together ensures the new parliament receives a mandate to implement approved reforms.

The blue thumb mark refers to the application of indelible blue ink on the left thumb of voters after they cast their ballots. This measure, similar to India's use of indelible ink but applied to the thumb instead of the index finger, prevents multiple voting or electoral fraud. Once identity is verified and ballots are issued, the mark is applied before the voter leaves the polling booth, serving as a visible indicator that the person has already participated. This longstanding anti-fraud mechanism is particularly emphasized in this election due to its complexity and high stakes.

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The reforms stem from the July National Charter, developed through consultations involving reform commissions on the constitution, judiciary, elections, police, administration, and anti-corruption. The charter proposes over 80 changes, with the referendum bundling them for a single Yes/No decision to streamline approval and avoid prolonged debates. Proponents argue it embeds lessons from the 2024 uprising, promotes accountability, and prevents power concentration. Critics have raised concerns about the binary format potentially oversimplifying complex issues and limited public understanding in rural areas, though the simultaneous holding was chosen to align voter mandates.

This landmark election, overseen by the Election Commission under an interim government, features over 127 million registered voters, more than 2,000 candidates, and first-time postal voting for expatriates, polling officers, and detainees. It occurs amid tight security and optimism for a free and fair process, contrasting with past elections criticized for irregularities. The outcome will shape Bangladesh's political future, determining both leadership and the framework for governance in the post-Hasina era. As counting proceeds manually, results for both the parliamentary seats and referendum are expected to emerge in the following days.

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