Context

Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI), has provided the facility of home voting for the elderly and Persons with Disabilities in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Eligibility for Vote from Home

• Voters above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with 40% benchmark disability began casting their votes for phase I and II of polling.  
• There are over 81 lahks 85+ aged voters and 90 lakh + PwD voters registered across the country.

Vote From Home for a ‘Notified Class of Electors’: ( A Postal Ballot Voting)

• It is the facility provided by the Election Commission of India to Absentee Voters, which is categorized  to vote from home.
• Eligibility: Under Rule 27A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 has been amended to provide the optional postal ballot facility to ‘Absentee Voters’. 
• ‘Absentee voter’ has been defined in clause (aa) of Rule-27A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and includes
  • Persons employed in essential services 
  • Senior citizens above 85 years 
  • Persons with Disabilities (with 40% benchmark or above disability) 
  • COVID-19 suspect or affected persons 

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The category of essential services (Those who work in metros, railways and health care )is notified by the ECI under Section 60(C) of the R.P. Act, 1951 in consultation with the Government.

What Are Postal Ballots and Who Can Apply?

What are Postal Ballots? 

• Postal ballots, also known as mail-in ballots, allow registered voters to vote by mail instead of physically going to a polling station. 
• This system is a convenient alternative for individuals unable to vote in person due to various circumstances, such as being away from their home constituency, facing a disability, or performing essential services on election day.

Who Can Apply?

• Media persons covering polling activities. They must carry authorisation letters from the Election Commission 
• Service workers :  
  • Personnel of the armed forces posted away from home 
  • Central Armed Police personnel posted away from home, and those on poll duty 
  • All persons appointed on election duty who are not able to cast their vote at the polling station where they are enrolled as a voter are entitled to the facility of either an EDC or a postal ballot.
• Electors under preventive detention: Individuals detained under preventive custody orders during the election period.

Voting from Home Procedure 

Significance of Vote from Home

• Inclusivity: It will ensure equal participation of voters without any discrimination in election process 
• Accessibility: Without any barriers, persons with disability & Senior citizens can cast their vote in an accessible manner.
• Reduce Extra burden on Temporary Arrangement at the Polling Station: Like Ramp, Wheel chair, Special Medical facility arrangement etc
• Democratic Reinforcement: As every citizen is equally empowered to cast his/her vote therefore it will create a positive notion towards all the sections of society.
• To Increase in Voter Turnout:  Many elderly & PwD voters hesitate to go for voting due to various reasons at the polling station therefore it will help in increasing the voting percentage. 

Challenges with Vote from Home

• Logistical challenge: To visit individual houses and collect postal ballots. 
• Missed Visit of Polling Team: The unscheduled visit of the polling team did not create awareness in the local area.
• Secrecy of Vote: 
• • Undue Influence of Peer Groups or vested candidates to vote in their favour.
  • Matching of the Document Identification & correction.  

Way Forward

• Create a mass awareness campaign for the notified voters in their respective areas.
• Conduct Voting Exercises in the presence of booth-level agents of respective political parties door to door. & 
• Verified Identification Card: To ensure that ID proof of the voter is furnished apart from the electoral ID card and that the voter’s Aadhaar card is verified.

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Conclusion

This initiative marks a significant stride towards ensuring inclusivity and accessibility of the electoral process and bolstering democratic participation.

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