Expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to exercise their franchises votes in the 11th Parliamentary Election through postal ballots, says the Election Commission.
“Expatriates, who are registered as voters can vote for their preferred candidates from abroad, should they choose to do so.” its Secretary Helal Uddin told Bangla Tribune on phone.
Explaining the process, he said, “Expats will have to apply via postal mail or email to the returning officers for their constituencies, who will send a postal ballot. The voter will then vote for the preferred candidate and mail it back. But the whole process has to be completed before the voting ends.”
Since the entire process is time consuming with the Dec 30 set as Election Day, willing expats should immediately apply for postal ballots, suggests the EC official.
Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Md Tofail Islam said, “If any expat applies for postal ballot, we will take necessary steps.”
Deputy commissioners, who are in charge of the administration in the districts, serve as the returning officers during the election.
Over 10 million Bangladeshis, who live abroad, are left out of the electoral process. The Election Commission hasn’t been able to issue national Ids to the expatriates despite earlier initiatives.
Expatriates have to travel to Bangladesh to obtain the national Id before getting them included in the electoral roll.
According to provisions stipulated in the Representation of the People’s Order (RPO) and the Electoral Rolls Ordinance, postal ballots apply for criteria — officials assigned for electoral duties, expatriate voters, public servants not posted in their hometowns and incarcerated citizens.
However, casting votes through postal ballot has not taken place in many years, say officials related to the process.
After announcing schedule for the 11th general election, the Election Commission issued a circular on Nov 12, in which it mentioned postal ballots.
It said public servants who are outside their constituencies for work purposes and prisoners need to apply to their respective returning officers within 15 days of the polls schedule announcement.
Officials who will work during the election need to apply to their respective returning officers as soon as they are assigned [to discharge polling duties].
The circular did not mention the deadline for Bangladeshi expatriates. An EC official said they too would have to apply within 15 days.
EC Deputy Secretary Atiar Rahman said the commission had issued a circular on postal ballots, but admitted that several issues were not made clear in the circular.
“Nobody cast votes via postal ballot even after having the opportunity. This is why clarity was not required in the circular. We need to meet with the officials of the post office regarding the matter,” he told Bangla Tribune.
However, casting votes through postal ballot has not taken place in many years, added Rahman.
