Postal Voting Begins Today: Critical Rules & Guidelines (2024)

News Today: Essential Guidelines for Postal Voting

The Election Commission has announced that postal voting for the 2024 Presidential Election will take place today and tomorrow, providing necessary facilities for postal voters to cast their votes at their respective workplaces. The process will continue at District Secretariats and Election offices on September 4th, and at all Police Special Task Force (STF) camps, Police offices, and Police Stations on September 4th and 6th. Postal voters who are unable to vote on these dates due to unavoidable reasons can cast their votes on September 11th and 12th at their District Secretariat’s office or the District Election office between 9 am and 4 pm.

In addition to these arrangements, the Election Commission has granted permission for two representatives per Presidential candidate, along with one observer from the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and the Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), to monitor the marking of postal votes at each Returning Officer’s polling center. However, employees of the relevant Returning Officer’s office or individuals from monitoring organizations cannot engage in monitoring activities at their own polling centers. Only those registered as postal voters are allowed entry into the polling centers.

Strict regulations have been set to ensure the integrity of the postal voting process. Photographing or video recording of postal ballot markings, polling stations, and their surroundings is strictly prohibited. The Election Law also bans the display of any Presidential candidate’s name, distribution of leaflets, or any form of soliciting votes within the polling center premises. Taking a marked or unmarked ballot paper out of the polling station is a punishable offense. Additionally, attempts to photograph or video record a ballot paper, marked or unmarked, and sharing such images on any media, including social media, will be treated as a violation of the Election Commission’s directives.

The Election Commission’s strict guidelines aim to maintain a free, fair, and transparent voting process, ensuring that the 2024 Presidential Election is conducted with the utmost integrity. These measures are in place to safeguard the electoral process and uphold the principles of democracy.