ECP to receive postal ballot papers applications by July 5

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fixed July 5 as last date for receipt of applications for postal ballot papers for general election to the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies.

According to ECP, this facility, under the law, has been extended to the persons in government service, members of Armed Forces, their spouses and such of their children as are registered voters and ordinarily reside with them provided they are stationed at a place other than the place in which their constituency is situated, persons with any physical disability who are unable to travel and hold a National Identity Card with a logo for physical disability issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the persons who are detained in prison or held in custody are also entitled to vote by postal ballot.

The last date in this behalf for such polling personnel and police personnel as are posted at a polling station other than one at which they are entitled to cast their vote, has been fixed as July 10, 2018.

Persons who are appointed to act as Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and Polling Officers and the Police Personnel who are assigned duties at the polling stations, have been advised to apply for postal ballot by July 10, 2018 by which time their appointments as polling personnel are expected to have been finalized and the fact of their appointment indicated to them.

It said that applications for postal ballot will be made on the prescribed form available on ECP website www.ecp.gov.pk or may be obtained from the Returning Officer concerned of the constituency.

It said that the voters to whom postal ballots are issued will not be entitled to vote in person at the polling stations.

The application will be forwarded or endorsed by the office or department of the voter concerned to guard against unauthorized person applying for postal ballot.