The Election Commission (EC) is set to revamp the design of postal ballots used within the country, officials confirmed on Friday.
Unlike ballots sent abroad, the new domestic postal ballots will display only the names and symbols of the final candidates, removing all other party symbols.
The decision was reportedly taken at an informal EC meeting on Friday night.
Earlier, on Thursday, a delegation, led by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, met the EC and proposed that domestic postal ballots show only the names and symbols of the relevant candidates to make voting simpler and more accessible.
Speaking after the meeting, Salahuddin said, “Domestic postal ballots will be used more widely. We proposed that only the names and symbols of relevant candidates appear on the ballots so that voters can cast their votes easily without confusion.”
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also alleged that certain symbols, including Jamaat’s electoral symbol ‘Daripalla’ (balance scale), ‘Hat pakha” (Hand fan) of Islami Andolan, and Shapla Koi’ (Water lily bud) of NCP, were being placed at the top of the postal ballot to favor specific parties.
The EC, however, clarified that the design of postal ballots sent abroad follows the standard government gazette procedures and maintains continuity in printing.
Who can vote via postal ballot?
For the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum, postal voting will be available to election officials and staff, government employees working outside their constituencies, and voters under legal custody.
A total of 15, 33,683 voters have registered for postal voting, including 7,61,141 domestic voters.
