Filling the postal ballot application form is not a complicated affair but according to Election Officials, many people do not seem to know how to fill the postal ballot application form properly.

For the National Council election, the postal ballot application forms must reach the returning officer in the Dzongkhag by November 30.

The postal ballot can be used only by civil servants, students, armed force personnel, trainees and dignitaries living outside the country. But this does not mean they have to vote compulsorily through postal ballots. They will use the postal ballots only if they cannot make it to their polling stations because of their work.

The most common mistake according to Election Officer Tashi Dorji is in filling up the details of the competent witness. The competent witness should be an eligible voter from any constituency.

Those who do not have their Voter Photo Identity Cards can use their new ID card number in the postal ballots. But they cannot use their old ID number.

After filling all the details, the form should be sent to the respective returning officer. After cross checking with the voter list and the entries in the postal ballot application form, the returning officer will send the postal ballot package to you in the address you have provided in the application form.

Inside this envelope there will be two envelopes. One envelope will contain a form where you have to provide the details of the applicant and the details of the competent witness.

The other envelope will contain the names of candidates. After ticking the name of the candidate you want to vote for, the envelopes should be sealed properly and sent back to the respective returning officer.

Upon receiving the ballot the returning officer will put the envelope with the name of candidate you have voted for directly in the ballot box thus maintaining the secrecy of the ballot. The other envelope will be opened to maintain the record of the voter.

But according to Election Officer Tashi Dorji, going out personally to the polling station to vote will be more satisfactory. Source: BBS