The Election Commission (EC) has decided to send the ballot papers for the 12th national election to most of the polling stations on the morning of election day.
The EC issued a circular on Monday providing instructions in this regard.
It said in case of polling centres situated in remote areas like –hill tracts, haor, char, islands or similar remote locations– where it is not feasible for the ballot papers to reach on the morning of the polling day, the Returning Officer (RO) will collaborate with local police as per UNO or assistant RO’s suggestion and arrange to deliver ballot accordingly.
In all other cases, ROs were directed to deliver ballot papers to polling stations on the morning of January 7.
It is the first time that the commission has asked for ballot papers to reach the polling centres on polling day morning.
Respective ROs will have to make plans for delivering the ballot papers on the morning of polling day and get those approved by the Election Commission by December 31, 2023.
Usually, during parliamentary elections, ballot boxes are sent to polling centres on the afternoon or evening before the polling day. Presiding officers and law enforcement agencies took ballot papers to the centres on the previous day.
