Overseas postal ballots may be invalid if they don’t arrive today: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has warned that postal ballots from overseas voters for the 13th national parliamentary elections and the referendum may be invalid if they do not reach Bangladesh by Thursday, February 5. Ballots that fail to arrive within the deadline will be excluded from the vote count.

On Tuesday (February 3), the EC issued a notice on the Postal Vote BD app, expressing concern over potential delays. The notice instructed voters to place their ballot papers and referendum ballots in the white envelope after casting their votes, sign the declaration form, and then place it inside the yellow envelope. Voters were urged to submit the envelopes at the nearest post office or mailbox as soon as possible.

The EC further warned that ballots not reaching Bangladesh by February 5 may face delays in delivery to the returning officers. Ballots not received by the returning officers by 4:30 pm on voting day will not be counted. The commission urged overseas voters to send their ballots promptly.