New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The Election Commission of India has outlined special measures to facilitate voting through postal ballots for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, service voters and those on election duty in the upcoming Assembly elections across multiple states.
The Commission, which recently announced the election schedule for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the union Territory of Puducherry, said the initiative is aimed at ensuring greater inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process. Notifications for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry have already been issued as per the poll schedule announced on March 15.
According to the Commission, voters aged above 85 years and persons with disabilities identified in electoral rolls will be allowed to cast their votes from home using the postal ballot system, as provided under Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. “Such electors can avail this facility using Form 12D… within five days of notification of election,” the Commission said, adding that polling teams will visit voters’ residences to collect ballots as per a pre-announced schedule.
The poll body also extended this facility to individuals engaged in essential services on polling day, including personnel in fire services, healthcare, electricity, traffic management, ambulance services and aviation, as well as those working in long-distance government transport corporations. These voters can apply for postal ballots through designated nodal officers in their respective departments.
In a notable inclusion, the Commission said media personnel authorised for election coverage will also be treated as absentee voters under essential services and will be eligible for the postal ballot facility.
“For voters on election duty, arrangements have been made to ensure that they can cast their vote at designated facilitation centres with complete secrecy,” the Commission stated. These voters will receive their postal ballots, record their vote and submit them at such centres set up specifically for this purpose.
Service voters, including members of the armed forces and those posted abroad, will be provided postal ballots electronically through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). The Commission clarified that such voters will not have to bear postal charges when returning their ballots.
The Commission has directed that all postal ballots must reach the respective Returning Officers by 8:00 am on May 4, 2026, the day of counting. It has also instructed Returning Officers and District Election Officers to brief political parties and candidates about these provisions to ensure transparency and smooth implementation.
The move is part of the Commission’s broader efforts to improve voter participation and remove logistical barriers, particularly for vulnerable and duty-bound groups, in what is expected to be a high-stakes electoral cycle across key states.
