ISLAMABAD, April 13: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday announced the procedure of casting vote through postal ballot in the referendum, and asked willing voters to apply for this by April 20.

The criteria issued by the commission has suggested that a person entitled to cast vote by the postal ballot will apply to the assistant returning officer by April 20. The application should also specify the name of the voter, his parentage address supported with a copy of the national identity card.

Under the Referendum Order 2002, a person who is a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), that include members of the armed forces and persons attached with such forces, can cast their votes through postal ballot.

Similarly, the employees of statutory corporations, of companies and corporations established or controlled by the federal government or a provincial government, citizens of Pakistan residing abroad, their wives and children or a person detained in prison or held in custody can also caste their votes through the ballot.

After receiving application, the assistant returning officer (ARO) will send the ballot paper to the voter with an envelope ‘A’, containing a ballot paper, and another envelope ‘B’.

The elector will be required to put the envelope ‘A’ into the envelope ‘B’ to return to the ARO by post. Written instructions regarding marking the ballot will also be sent to the voter.

The voter will be required to sign or affix his thumb impression (if he is illiterate) in the relevant circle on the ballot paper, to enclose the ballot in the envelope ‘A’ and seal it.

The order said the voter will then be required to make a declaration before a gazetted officer or a commissioned officer that he is the voter to whom the ballot paper has been issued. He will then have the declaration attested by the gazetted officer or the commissioned officer.

The officer will be entitled to mark the ballot paper on behalf of an illiterate or otherwise infirm voter who, due to illiteracy or due to the nature of the infirmity, is unable to sign the declaration and mark the postal ballot paper.

The envelope containing the ballot paper, together with the attested declaration, duly sealed/closed will be placed in a large envelope ‘B’ supplied for the purpose by the ARO, who issues the ballot paper.

The order has make it clear that the ballot papers reaching the officer after the stipulated date or not accompanied by the declaration and the attestation, will liable to be rejected. No postage was required to be paid for sending postal ballot.

The application forms for postal ballot are available with the assistant returning officers, provincial election commissioners and assistant election commissioners, throughout Pakistan. The order has said the form could also be copied from the form published in the newspapers.