EC makes SSC certificates mandatory for voter registration database uploads

The Election Commission (EC) has made it mandatory to attach SSC or equivalent certificates to the database for applicants with secondary or higher educational qualifications during voter registration.

The directive was issued in a notice signed by Md Saiful Islam, director (operations) of the National Identity (NID) Registration Wing, from the EC Secretariat today (29 April).

According to the notice, applicants must submit Form-2, Form-3, special information forms (where applicable), birth certificates, SSC or equivalent certificates (where applicable), passports and signed proof copies during voter registration. 

These documents are particularly crucial for verifying dates of birth in cases of national identity card corrections.

However, the EC observed that in many recent cases, despite applicants having secondary or higher qualifications, local election offices at the upazila or thana level failed to upload SSC or equivalent certificates to the database. 

This has led to complications during later corrections and difficulties for officials in making accurate decisions. 

In some instances, applicants have even denied their educational qualifications, creating further complications.

To address these issues, the EC issued three directives.

First, SSC or equivalent certificates, including date of birth, must be mandatorily attached to the database if the applicant has passed secondary level or above.

Second, even if applicants hold higher qualifications; such as HSC, undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil or PhD, their SSC or equivalent certificates must still be uploaded. 

Additionally, hard copies of the highest educational certificates and related documents must be preserved.

Third, senior district, district and regional election officers have been instructed to ensure compliance through regular office inspections and sample-based monitoring.