The Election Commission (EC) has issued new guidelines regarding the deadline for sending postal ballots to expatriate voters in the upcoming elections. After repeatedly changing the time, the EC has now said that the returning officer will take into account the ballot papers only if they reach by 4:30 pm on the polling day. If this new deadline is exceeded, expatriates will lose the opportunity to be included in the vote count.

This information was provided by the Election Commission’s public relations wing on Saturday (January 24).

In the notification, the EC said that voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile app should vote as soon as possible after receiving the ballot and submit the yellow envelope to the nearest post office or post box. The commission clearly stated that the ballot should reach the concerned Returning Officer by 4:30 pm on February 12, 2026. Even if it is delayed by one minute, that vote will not be counted.

Earlier, the EC said that to avoid possible postal delays and complications in international travel arrangements, the deadline for posting ballots for expatriates was set by January 25. However, in response to requests from political parties, the EC has now extended the deadline for sending ballots until polling day.

To send ballots to expatriate voters, those who have registered on the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app and those who have collected the ballots and cast their votes must fill the ballot in a specific yellow envelope. If the ballot sent after the specified time does not reach on time, all responsibility for it not being included in the count will fall on the concerned voter, the EC said.