Postal ballots from April 29 to May 6

BENGALURU: For the first time, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided the option of postal ballot for people above 80 years of age and the physically challenged in the upcoming state Assembly elections 2023. Those eligible can vote from their homes by following the instructions of electoral officers.

Prior to voting, other pre-poll processes such as submission of nomination papers, scrutiny and withdrawal have been completed and the countdown for postal ballot voting has begun. Postal ballot voting will be held over seven days from April 29 to May 6 and people aged 80 and above are allowed to cast their votes.

There are more than two lakh people above 80 years of age registered in the electoral rolls out of which only 8,000 people will vote from home and the rest of them will visit the polling station.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said, “The Election Commission identified 2,33,000 people 80 years of age people as per the electoral role. When we took up door-to-door visits, we found 1,04,000 people, but we did not get information on the whereabouts about the remaining people. There are 9,200 physically challenged people recognised as voters by the commission”.

“Returning officers’ teams will conduct the ballot paper voting process. They will take photos and videos during the procedure. There is a challenge because the team has to maintain confidentiality, confirm there is no internal or external influence on voters. Exercising vote is more important than the challenge”, he added

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath briefing about postal ballot voting procedure.

He further said, “Raising voting percentage rate is the responsibility of every citizens. We expect that the voting percentage should be raise to 75 per cent this time, but the target is 100 per cent. The ‘Main Baratiya Hoon’ song has become very popular. We have given it to IT-BT companies. Some of them composing songs themselves to encourage vote and sharing it with us”.