Candidates’ names added to in-country postal ballots: EC

The Election Commission yesterday announced that candidates’ names will be added alongside their electoral symbols on in-country postal voting (ICPV) ballots for the 13th national election scheduled for February 12.

“Candidates’ names will be added to postal ballots along with electoral symbols only for voters registered inside the country, not for expatriates,” Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman Masud told the media.

For expatriate voter registration, the EC launched the Postal Vote BD app on November 18, initially targeting voters in 140 countries. Registration was completed in 121 countries before ending on January 5.

Three categories of voters registered through the app -- expatriate Bangladeshis, government officials assigned election duties, and people in legal custody.

Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of registrations with 2,39,186 voters, followed by Malaysia (84,293) and Qatar (76,139).

According to EC data, a total of 15,33,683 Bangladeshi voters living in 121 countries registered through the app. The EC has sent 7,28,043 postal ballots to expatriates.

The chief election commissioner said around 1.3 crore Bangladeshis live abroad and described the initiative as a step toward ending their disenfranchisement.

Postal ballots for the national election and the constitutional referendum were dispatched by January 8.

The ballots contain 118 symbols of registered political parties and independent candidates. The Awami League’s boat symbol does not appear, as the party’s registration remains suspended. A “No” vote option is also included.

Ahead of the national election and referendum, election symbols will be distributed on January 21. Voters will then be able to cast their ballots digitally by selecting their preferred candidates after reviewing the names and symbols for their constituencies.

From January 22, voters can return completed postal ballots by mail.

Ballots must reach returning officers by 4:30pm on polling day to be counted. EC officials said the dispatch and return process takes between 16 and 28 days, depending on the country.

Meanwhile, on January 16, the BNP filed a complaint alleging that its name and symbol were not clearly visible on postal ballots sent to expatriate voters.

The party claimed its name and symbol were placed in the middle of the ballot, while several other parties’ symbols appeared in the first row, raising concerns of bias.