'Postal Vote BD' app launched for expatriate registration ahead of national election

The Election Commission (EC) today (18 November) launched the mobile app 'Postal Vote BD' to facilitate easier registration for Bangladeshis living abroad to vote.

The app was formally launched this evening at 6pm at the Election Commission's auditorium, according to Election Commission officials.

The EC stated that expatriates will use the app to cast IT-supported postal ballots in the upcoming national parliamentary election.

Expatriates can register through the app until 18 December under various sets of registration windows, the commission said.

According to the EC set registration window, Bangladeshis residing in East Asia, South America, and Africa can register from tomorrow (19 November) until 23 November, while Bangladeshis in North America, Australia and New Zealand can register from 24 to 28 November.

Those in Europe can register from 29 November to 3 December, and Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia can register from 4 to 8 December.

Bangladeshis in South Asia and South‑East Asia can register from 9 to 13 December while  Bangladeshis in Middle Eastern countries other than Saudi Arabia can register from 14 to 18 December.

Finally, Bangladeshis residing in Bangladesh can register from 19 to 23 December, EC said.

From the app's launch, expatriate voters can register within the specified windows by providing their name, address and national identity card (NID) number to have their names entered on the voter list.

The EC stated that the app will also enable other categories of voters to participate in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, including expatriate Bangladeshi voters, officials serving on election duty, government employees posted outside their home constituencies, and voters in legal custody.

At the event, Election Commissioner Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (Retd) said that although the law provides for postal ballots, implementation had not been possible until now. He noted expatriates will not vote before the candidate lists are finalised, but the ballots will reach them in advance.

He added that the entire process will allow monitoring by voters, returning officers and the EC. He acknowledged that the initiative was costly, stating that the postal department currently charges about Tk700 per vote, while platforms such as DHL would have cost around Tk5,000; expatriates will not have to pay.

He said expatriate voter registration will be the biggest challenge this time. He identified the global wastage rate for postal ballots as another challenge, followed by cybersecurity. 

To avoid doubts about the voting process, he said the EC has adopted manual procedures rather than the most advanced automated methods. He appealed to the expatriates to keep voting information confidential, calling it a matter of faith, because the primary election will be held in the country three weeks after they cast their votes.