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What is the News?
For the first time in India, the Election Commission of India has allowed the casting of postal votes for a certain section of Peoples. In the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the ECI allowed elderly voters aged over 80, the differently-abled, and persons tested positive for COVID-19 to cast a vote via postal ballot.
What is the Postal Ballot System?
- A postal Ballot is a facility whereby a voter can cast his/her vote remotely. The user cast the vote by recording preference on the ballot paper and sending it back to the election officer before counting.
- Section 60 of the Representation of People’s(RP) Act,1951 provides for the person a postal ballot facility.
Click Here to Read more about Postal Ballots
Procedure for voting through Postal Ballots for these three categories:
- People permitted to cast a postal ballot can choose to vote by filling up Form 12D. After filling them, he/she can submit the form to the nodal officer within five days of notification of an election.
- Officials would then visit the houses of the voters on a fixed day before the day of polling. They will receive their ballots in ballot boxes physically. However, indelible ink will not be applied on the fingers of electors.
- Further, those who have filled 12-D forms will not be allowed to cast votes at the polling booths.
Source: The Hindu
