ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: The Election Commission has set Dec 18 as the last date for receiving applications for postal ballots.

An estimated three to four million voters are entitled to cast vote by postal ballot, but most of them do not go for it.

The last date for the polling staff and police personnel to be posted at polling stations is Dec 28.

Officials appointed as presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers and police personnel have been advised to apply for postal ballots as soon as possible.

The Election Commission said: “This facility, under the law, has been extended only to government servants, members of armed forces, holders of public offices, their wives and such of their children as are registered voters and ordinarily reside with them provided they are stationed at a place other than the place in which their home constituency is situated. Persons detained in prison or held in other custody are also entitled to vote by postal ballot.”