EC to Launch ‘Postal Vote BD’ App for Expatriate Voting
The Election Commission (EC) is set to empower expatriate Bangladeshis to cast their votes by post in the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. To this end, a new mobile application “Postal Vote BD” has been developed by EC, Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed revealed today while briefing reporters at the Election Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon.
He said the Commission has undertaken a special project to facilitate out-of-country voting, under which the “Postal Vote BD” app has been designed. Expatriates will be able to download the app from the Google Play Store and register using their National Identity (NID) number, he said.
He added, “Although the app is yet to be officially launched, its name and operational framework have already got EC’s approval.” Upon successful registration, he said, the voter’s details will be verified against the NID database, which will automatically determine the respective parliamentary constituency. Following verification, he continued, voters will be required to provide their overseas address where the ballot paper will be sent.
The EC Senior Secretary said that once the date of polling is fixed, the Bangladesh Post Office (BPO) will send a package consisting of three envelopes. The first envelope will contain the ballot paper and detailed instructions on voting, while the voter will mark his or her choice by tick or cross against the symbol, he said. He went on, saying then the ballot paper must be sealed in the designated envelope and placed inside the second envelope. The second envelope should be deposited at the local post office or in a post box. The postal department will deliver the envelope to the returning officer concerned, he added.
On the counting day, he said, votes received by post will be included with other ballots. The EC Senior Secretary said, “The entire process will be technology-based and automated. Constituency determination, returning officer’s address and printing of envelopes will all be generated through the NID data pool. There will be no scope for manual intervention.” Mentioning that the BPO will be responsible for printing the ballot papers and envelopes, he said “Before the date of election, ballot papers will reach the office of the returning officer and remain preserved. During counting, the postal ballots will be incorporated with the general tally.”
Regarding the polling schedule, the EC Senior Secretary said that “No specific date has been announced yet, as it is linked with the election schedule, allocation of symbols and final list of candidates.” He said, “The date for dispatching ballot papers will be announced after the schedule is declared.” “This initiative will ensure the participation of expatriate Bangladeshis in the democratic process and make the election more inclusive,” he added.
