Postal ballot facility extended for senior
citizens, PwDs and essential service voters
¨ Postal ballot facility
extended for senior citizens, PwDs and essential service voters.
¨ The postal ballot
facility has been extended by the Election Commission of India to electors
above 85 years and persons with disabilities.
¨ This provision has been
introduced to ensure inclusive and accessible participation in the electoral
process.
¨ It also covers service
voters, election duty staff, and individuals engaged in essential services on
polling day.
¨
Eligible voters are
required to submit Form 12D to the Returning Officer within five days of
election notification.
¨ Polling teams will visit
the residences of such voters to collect votes as per a pre-announced schedule.
¨ Essential service
personnel, including those in healthcare, fire services, electricity, transport
and aviation, are eligible under this facility.
¨
Media personnel
authorised for election coverage have also been included in the absentee voter
category.
¨ Service voters will
receive postal ballots electronically through the Electronically Transmitted
Postal Ballot System (ETPBS).
¨ Strict guidelines have been issued to maintain secrecy during voting at facilitation centres.
¨ All postal ballots must reach the Returning Officers by 8:00 AM on the day of counting, scheduled on May 4, 2026.
