The Election Commission (EC) has released the Media Personnel Guidelines-2025 to regulate journalists and media representatives covering the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and local government polls.

According to the guidelines, journalists holding valid EC-issued accreditation cards will have direct access to polling stations. Upon arrival, they must notify the Presiding Officer before collecting information, taking photographs, or recording videos. However, filming or photographing inside secret voting booths is strictly prohibited.

No more than two journalists from different media outlets can enter a polling booth at the same time, and their stay is limited to 10 minutes. Interviews with election officials, agents, or voters inside the booth are forbidden, and live broadcasts from within the booth are not allowed. If live reporting is necessary, it must be done from outside the booth without disrupting election activities.

Media personnel can observe and photograph the vote counting process, but live broadcasts from counting rooms are prohibited. Similarly, no live social media broadcasts from inside polling booths are allowed.

Journalists must avoid disrupting the voting process or interfering with election officials and must not touch or remove election materials. They must also refrain from promoting or opposing any candidate or political party and avoid spreading hateful propaganda, strictly adhering to electoral laws and regulations.

The guidelines apply to all elections under the EC’s jurisdiction, including national parliament, upazila parishad, city corporations, zila parishad, pourashava, and union parishad elections.

The EC Secretariat and Returning Officers will issue journalist pass cards and vehicle/motorcycle stickers to accredited media personnel one week before the election. Journalists will be allowed to use motorcycles for commuting, subject to local administration approval based on practical needs.

To obtain permission for motorcycle use, journalists must submit their appointment letter, press ID, national ID, motorcycle registration, driving license, and other relevant documents for verification by the Returning Officer or an authorized official.

The EC will issue accreditation cards and vehicle stickers to journalists from authorized print, television, online portals, IPTV, freelance, international, and foreign media covering both parliamentary and local elections.