Senior citizens aged 85 years and above, as well as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with a minimum of 40% benchmark disability
Digital Desk: The states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry, are set to go to the polls for their Legislative Assembly elections, with approximately 17.4 crore voters eligible to cast their votes.
To make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible, the Election Commission of India has further streamlined its “home voting” facility. This initiative enables elderly and differently-abled voters to cast their ballots from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need to visit polling stations.
Eligibility Criteria
Senior citizens aged 85 years and above, as well as Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with a minimum of 40% benchmark disability certified by a competent medical authority, are eligible to opt for home voting. Additionally, certain essential service workers, including healthcare professionals who are unable to leave their duties, may qualify under the “Absentee Voter” category.
Application Process
Eligible voters must adhere to a strict timeline to avail of the home voting facility. They are required to submit Form 12D to the Returning Officer within five days of the election notification being issued in their constituency.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the homes of identified voters aged 85+ and PwDs to distribute and collect the forms. PwD applicants must attach a copy of their disability certificate while submitting the form.
Home Voting Procedure
Once the application is approved, a designated team will visit the voter’s residence. The team typically comprises two polling officials, a videographer to document the process, and security personnel.
A temporary voting compartment will be set up within the home to ensure the secrecy of the ballot. Voters will receive prior intimation of the date and approximate time of the visit via SMS.
In case the voter is unavailable during the first visit, a second and final visit will be scheduled. However, if both visits are missed, the voter will not be permitted to cast their vote at a polling booth on election day.
The Election Commission has also released data on the total number of eligible home voters across the poll-bound states and the Union Territory, underscoring its efforts to make the democratic process more inclusive.
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