Elections 2024: ECP begins issuing postal ballots

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has commenced the issuance of postal ballot papers for the general elections in 2024.

Eligible voters can cast their votes through postal ballot papers until January 22.

Voters can download the application form for a postal ballot paper from the ECP website.

Upon receiving the postal ballot, voter can submit their votes to the Returning Officer (RO) within the stipulated time after receiving the postal ballot paper.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed all arrangements to conduct free, fair and transparent general elections in the country.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) yesterday released code of conduct for security officials who will be deployed during the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.

The code of conduct binds the security officials, excluding Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces, to perform their duty in accordance with the law and cooperate with the presiding officers, returning officers (ROs) and polling staff.

The code orders the security officials to:

• Assist Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in conduct of free, fair, transparent and peaceful General Elections-2024 by:
• Deploying security personnel outside all polling stations.
• Secure environment for maintenance of law and order.
• Security of printing presses during printing of Ballot Papers.
• Security during transportation of Ballot Papers from Printing Presses to RO’s office.
• Security to Presiding Officers during transportation of Polling Bags
• Security during transportation of election material to RO Offices
• Perform their functions under Article 220 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
• Each gazetted officer of the law enforcement agency shall exercise powers delegated to them through a Notification to be issued by ECP in terms of Section 193 of Elections Act,2017 .
• Cooperate with the concerned DROs, ROs and Presiding Officers as required under section 83(4) of the Elections Act, 2017.
• Remain impartial during the voting process and will not work for or against any political party or electoral candidate.
• Observe politeness, display immaculate behavior in dealing with voters and Polling staff, while remaining firm and just in dealing in accordance with the law.
• Frisk/Check each voter before entering premises of the polling station.
• Facilitate voters and ensure that they are properly queued. Elderly, transgender, pregnant women, women with infants and voters with disabilities are entitled to prioritised dealing.
• Exclusively concentrate on ensuring peaceful and transparent polling process while performing duty outside the polling station.
• Acquaint themselves with the fact that one polling agent of each contesting candidate is allowed by law to be present at each polling booth, however, only one Polling agent of each candidate will be allowed by the Presiding Officer to observe counting process and tabulation of results.
• Be aware of the fact that polling agent of each candidate who observes the counting process is, by law, allowed to take copy of Form-45 (Result of the Count) and Form46 (Ballot Paper Account) from Presiding Officer.
• Provide Security to the premises of RO office till the completion of consolidation of results and ensure safe deposit of polling bags and other material in the strong room of the Commission.
• Acquaint themselves that the District Returning Officers / Returning Officers may at any time visit the polling stations.
• Allow the accredited observers and media persons to enter a polling station.