Ballots Not Received Within the Prescribed Time Will Not Be Counted: EC

For the first time, expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to exercise their voting rights through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. A total of 1,533,683 voters have registered to vote via a dedicated mobile application. Of them, 761,140 are government employees engaged in election duties, prisoners, and members of the law enforcement agencies.

After receiving their ballot papers, postal voters have been able to cast their votes since January 22 by logging into the app and clicking on the ballot tracking option. By January 25, voters must upload a live photograph through the app and scan the QR code printed on the envelope to submit their choice of candidate and their opinion in the referendum. The Election Commission (EC) is now awaiting the return of the completed ballots.

The EC has clearly stated that ballots not received by 4:30 pm on February 12 will not be counted. In this regard, the commission has urged voters to send their ballots as quickly as possible. In a press release issued on Saturday, January 24, the EC said that voters who registered through the mobile app should complete voting immediately after receiving the ballot and deposit the yellow envelope at the nearest post office or mailbox. Only ballots that reach the Returning Officer by 4:30 pm on February 12 will be included in the vote count.

The commission also warned that if postal ballots are not dispatched by January 25, they may fail to reach the Returning Officer within the stipulated time. Therefore, expatriate voters have been instructed to complete the postal voting process and send their ballots through the nearest post office by January 25.

Within the country, three categories of citizens—government employees, members of law enforcement agencies, and prisoners—are being given the opportunity to vote by postal ballot in this election. In addition, expatriate Bangladeshis residing in more than 120 countries are also voting through postal ballots. Altogether, more than 1.53 million voters have registered for this system.

The Election Commission will conduct the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a referendum on February 12, with more than 127.7 million voters expected to cast their ballots.

DBTech/DMO/EK/OR