Queues, ballots, and buzz: Ducsu polls through a first-time voter's eyes

Mornings at Dhaka University usually start with the rush of 8am classes, hurried footsteps across the campus, and students clutching their notebooks. But this morning felt way too different as the long-awaited Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election — something we had been anticipating for years — finally took place.

By the time voting closes at 3pm, it will officially be over. But for me, the highlight already came earlier in the day; casting my very first vote. Having never participated in a national election either, this experience held a special significance to me.

My polling centre was set up at the Department of Geology, since I was voting from Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall. I had little idea of what to expect. Two long queues stretched outside the centre, where voters were instructed to bring their hall or university ID cards. Bags and mobile phones were strictly prohibited. Like many others, I had written down my preferred candidates' names on a small slip of leaflet paper — helpfully handed out by an unknown campaigner.

The lines moved more slowly than I expected. Part of the delay came from a curious detail — although campaigning officially ended two days earlier, on 7 September, some candidates and their associates were still handing out leaflets or whispering ballot numbers to voters. Volunteers repeatedly tried to stop them, yet they found creative ways to sneak around the rules.

Inside, the room felt more crowded than I had imagined. Several small booths were arranged side by side, with only one person allowed in each at a time. No phones, no pens — everything had to be done under supervision. Official regulations gave voters up to five minutes to mark their ballots, though most took far less, having already made up their minds. Still, a few took longer, and with no strict timekeeping in place, the lines outside grew.

One small but important observation: many voters seemed unaware of the correct way to mark the ballot. The rules required placing a cross (×) beside the chosen candidates' names. Yet I saw at least four people using a tick mark (✓) instead. Despite being asked to submit their ballots, their votes would not count. My suggestion to voters who haven't voted yet; please read the instructions carefully before casting your vote.

Security and regulations were strict across the campus. Only authorised personnel, voters, candidates, and polling agents were allowed inside. Vehicles were banned from transporting voters. Photography inside booths was prohibited, and commuting between centres was somewhat challenging without convenient transport.

Yet for students like me — and especially as a first-time voter — the experience was memorable. I noticed many others enthusiastically discussing their choices right up until the last moment in line. The presence of the media added to the atmosphere as journalists interviewed voters and candidates outside the booths. According to the rules, they could only enter voting centres with proper ID and permission, but not the booths themselves. Live coverage was restricted to areas outside.

The sense of excitement was not limited to polling centres. As I left, the same atmosphere lingered around TSC and the Dhaka University Club, where groups of students and candidates exchanged views and shared their experiences.

This year's election was overseen by teachers serving as polling officers, supported by DU staff. Each of the six central voting centres had a member of the central election commission present, coordinated by the chief returning officer. Voting ran from 8am to 3pm — an hour longer than in 2019. For the first time, booths were set up outside residential halls, grouping the 19 halls into six central locations.