Postal ballots to be counted only if they arrive by 4:30 pm: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has said that the ballots of those who will exercise their postal ballot rights in the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum will not be counted if they do not arrive by 4:30 pm on February 12. 

In this case, the agency has asked to send them quickly.

This information was given in a press release by the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday. 

It said that voters who registered through the mobile app should complete their voting as soon as possible after receiving the ballot and submit the yellow envelope to the nearest post office or post box. 

Only if the ballot reaches the returning officer by 4:30 pm on February 12, the vote will be counted.

Earlier, the agency said that if the postal ballots of expatriates are not posted by January 25, the ballots may not reach the returning officer on time. 

For this, expatriate voters will have to complete the postal ballot voting process by January 25 and send it to the nearest post office.

Three categories of citizens within the country - government employees, law enforcement officers and prisoners - are getting the opportunity to vote by postal ballot this time. 

Apart from this, expatriates residing in more than 120 countries will also vote by postal ballot this time. 

In total, more than 1.533 million voters have registered.

Voting for the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum will be held from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on February 12.