EC considers changes to domestic postal ballots

The Election Commission (EC) is considering changes to postal ballots used within Bangladesh, while ballots sent to overseas voters will remain unchanged, Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said on Saturday (January 17).

Speaking to reporters, Masud said domestic postal ballots have not yet been printed, allowing for adjustments. The EC plans to include constituency-specific candidate names on these ballots to simplify the voting process for domestic voters.

However, due to time constraints, no changes can be made to postal ballots sent to expatriate voters, which will remain as previously planned.

The move follows a delegation led by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, which visited the EC last Thursday to express concerns over the complexity of the current postal ballot system. The delegation recommended simplifying domestic ballots to resemble standard ballot papers, listing only relevant candidates’ names and symbols.

Salahuddin emphasised that a large number of domestic voters will use postal ballots, and ensuring a straightforward process is essential to prevent confusion during voting.

The EC said it will take all aspects into account to ensure a voter-friendly and effective postal ballot system for the upcoming elections.