3.30 lakh elderly, PwDs used home voting facility in last 11 assembly polls, Karnataka tops list

As many as 3.30 lakh people with disability and electors who are 80 years and above have availed home voting facility in last 11 assembly elections, sources said on Saturday, citing data. Persons with disability (PwD), voters above 80 years of age and those suffering from Covid can avail home voting facility.

Notably, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar while announcing schedule for recently held Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Mhya Presh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana, h said that poll body has directed Chief Electoral Officers of se states to work towards awareness about vote from home facility and extending arrangement to elderly and persons with disabilities to vote from comfort of ir homes.

Karnataka tops ‘absentee voting’ percentage 

Representatives of political parties and polling personnel visit residence of electors who opt for home voting at a predesignated time. home voting option is exercised using ballot paper under prescribed secrecy norms and process is video-graphed. Over 2.6 lakh senior citizens who are 80 years and above and over 70,000 PwDs have availed home voting facility in last 11 state assembly elections, sources said.

While latest set of assembly polls were held in Mhya Presh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana, elections were earlier held in Gujarat, Himachal Presh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Karnataka. commission has also taken initiative to bring polling station at doorsteps of voters for whom attending polling booths would not be possible due to health related issues.

Among aforementioned states, highest voting among ‘absentee voters’ was registered in Karnataka in both categories. turnout in state during Karnataka assembly elections held in May, in 80+ group was around 95% with 75,690 voting from ir home. In case of ‘persons with disability’ voters, turnout was around 97%.

Home voting, sources recalled, is one of several interventions by Election Commission towards making elections inclusive and accessible. commission h been expressing gratitude towards senior citizen voters, particularly centenarians, for exercising ir franchise.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar h personally written letters to over 2.5 lakh centenarian voters to express commission's gratitude for ir key role in strengning democracy.