ECI allows postal ballot voting for elderly, PwDs and service voters in Assembly polls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced a series of measures to facilitate voting through postal ballots for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwDs), service voters and those on election duty in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Commission had earlier announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on March 15, along with bye-elections in six states. Notifications for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry were issued on March 16.
Under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, electors above the age of 85 years and PwDs identified in electoral rolls will be allowed to vote through postal ballots.
Eligible voters can avail the facility by submitting Form 12D to the Returning Officer through their Booth Level Officer (BLO) within five days of the election notification. Polling teams will then visit their residences to collect votes as per a pre-announced schedule, which will also be shared with candidates.
The facility has also been extended to voters engaged in essential services on polling day. These include personnel from fire services, healthcare, electricity, traffic management, ambulance services, aviation and long-distance government transport services.
Media personnel authorised by the Commission for poll day coverage have also been included in the category of absentee voters on essential services and will be eligible to vote through postal ballots.
Voters assigned election duty will receive their postal ballots at designated facilitation centres, where they can cast their vote. The Commission has issued guidelines to ensure complete secrecy during the voting process at these centres.
Service voters, including members of the armed forces, will be sent their postal ballots electronically through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) once the list of contesting candidates is finalised. They will not have to bear any postal charges.
The Commission has directed that all postal ballots must reach the concerned Returning Officers by 8:00 AM on the day of counting, scheduled for May 4, 2026.
