Postal Polling Protocol: EC Says QR Scan a Must for Expat Votes

Over 125,000 expatriates have already registered through the Postal Vote BD app to cast their ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. However, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that any postal ballot submitted without scanning the QR code printed on it will be declared invalid.

On Monday, 1 December, the information was confirmed by Md. Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of the EC’s Public Relations Wing.

According to the EC official, each ballot sent abroad will contain a QR code. Expatriate voters must scan the QR code before marking and returning their ballots. “If a voter fails to scan the code and sends the ballot back without verification, the vote will be cancelled,” he said.

He further added, “Previous postal ballots were ineffective, which is why the Commission decided to implement an IT-supported postal voting system—and it has already been executed. We are receiving encouraging responses from expatriates. The interest of those under legal custody and election duty will be clear when their registration period begins. Registration for expatriates began on 19 November and will remain open until 18 December. Those under legal custody and polling officials can register until 23 December.”

The EC stated that postal ballots will be sent by mail to registered voters abroad. After casting their vote, the voter must return the ballot in the reply envelope to the designated returning officer.

The EC is preparing to hold the 13th National Parliamentary Election in the first half of February. Initially, one million overseas ballots will be printed, with a target of securing votes from five million expatriates.

DBTech / DM / MUM / OR