DHAKA, Sept 22, 2025 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has published the registration and voting procedures for expatriate Bangladeshis to cast their votes through IT-supported postal ballots to ensure their participation in the democratic process.

The sample procedure was released today on the EC’s official website. It highlights two major aspects- ‘Registration process for IT-supported postal voting’ and ‘Voting process for IT-supported postal voting.’ 

According to the Commission, expatriates will be able to complete the application through a simple online process.

The registration process includes 11 steps. At first, voters have to launch the ‘Vote for You’ app, then select their residing country (other than Bangladesh). A new account can be created with a mobile number, which will be verified through a one-time password (OTP).

Then voters must capture a photo, complete live face verification, take a selfie while holding their National Identity Card (NID), and upload an image of the NID for verification.
 
Passport details will be verified automatically. Finally, the voter must provide their foreign address where the postal ballot will be sent. Once the account is verified, the registration is complete, and the voter will wait to receive the ballot.

For casting votes, nine steps have been outlined. Upon receiving the ballot paper, voters must confirm their address in the app, follow EC guidelines, and verify their mobile number. 

They will then take a photo, scan the QR code on the envelope, and mark their choice on the ballot paper. The sample of the ballot paper must be preserved, the declaration inside the envelope must be signed, and the completed ballot must be sealed inside the return envelope and submitted to the nearest post office.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters on September 18 that a special “Out of Country Voting” project has been undertaken for expatriates. 

Under this project, the ‘Vote for You’ app has been developed, which can be downloaded from Google Play Store and used for registration with the NID. 
Although the app has not yet been launched, its name and structure have been approved by the Commission. 

Once registration is completed, the voter’s information will be automatically matched with the NID database, identifying their respective parliamentary constituency. They will then provide the foreign address where the ballot should be delivered.

Officials said the initiative will enable expatriate Bangladeshis to exercise their voting rights in a safe and convenient way, ensuring their participation in the country’s democratic process.