In a progressive move aimed at ensuring maximum participation in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced special provisions for eligible voters. The new system will allow elderly citizens, individuals with disabilities, and those serving in essential services to cast their ballots conveniently via postal voting.
Who Can Vote by Postal Ballot?
Under this new notification, voters aged 85 and above, along with those officially recognized with benchmark disabilities, are now eligible to utilize the postal ballot facility. To take advantage of this, eligible electors must complete Form 12D and submit it to their respective Returning Officer through a Booth Level Officer (BLO) within five days of the official election notification. Dedicated polling teams will then visit their homes to facilitate the collection of their votes.
Essential Service Workers Also Included
The ECI has extended this postal ballot option to individuals engaged in essential services who may be on duty on election day. This critical category includes personnel from Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, and long-distance Government Road Transport Corporations. These electors can apply for the postal ballot through the designated nodal officer within their department.
Additionally, media professionals who are officially authorized by the Election Commission for election day coverage have been recognized as absentee voters in essential services, granting them access to the postal ballot facility.
Electronic Postal Ballots for Service Voters
For service voters, the process is streamlined even further. Postal ballots will be sent to them electronically by the Returning Officer via the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) immediately after the final list of contesting candidates is announced. Importantly, service voters will not incur any costs for these postal services.
Ensuring Transparency and Awareness
To ensure full transparency and understanding of these new provisions, the Returning Officer and District Election Officer have been instructed to thoroughly brief all political parties and contesting candidates on the applicable rules and procedures.