ECI walks extra mile to reach doorsteps of elderly and PwD voters
Citizens above 85 years & PwDs starts voting from home: 18th Lok Sabha
Election makes history
Over 1.7 crore 85+ Voters and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) voters can avail
facility
In a
pathbreaking initiative, the Election Commission of India (ECI), for the first
time in a Lok Sabha Election, has provided the facility of home voting for the
elderly and Persons with Disabilities in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Voters
above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with 40% benchmark
disability can avail the optional home voting facility. Voters in this category
have already began casting their votes for phase I and II of polling.
This initiative marks a significant stride towards ensuring inclusivity
and accessibility of the electoral process and in bolstering democratic
participation. There are over 81 lakh 85+ aged voters and 90 lakh + PwD voters
registered across the country.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv
Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh
Sandhu had announced that by giving home voting facility to elders and PwDs, it
is Commission’s expression of care and respect towards them and hoped that it
would set an example for society to adopt it in day-to-day life. Voters who
availed the home voting facility in phase 1 polls have expressed gratitude and
satisfaction for the ECI initiative. Voting from home takes place with
involvement of a full contingent of polling staff and security personnel with
secrecy of voting diligently maintained. With this, ECI has taken another
decisive step towards facilitating a more equitable and representative
democracy, where every citizen's voice matters, regardless of physical
limitations or age.
In Churu, Rajasthan eight PwD voters, all from the same
family, exercised home voting facility underlining the strength of India’s
electoral democracy. In Chhattisgarh, 87-year-old Indumati Pandey and
86-year-old Sonmati Baghel, from Bastar and Sukma tribal districts, exercised
their franchise using the postal ballot at home and expressed their gratitude
to Election Commission for the facility. In Maharashtra, ECI polling teams
travelled 107 kms to provide home voting facility to two elderly voters in
Sironcha town in Gadchiroli district, LWE affected area.
BR Mishra from Jaysingh Nagar, Madhya Pradesh, after
availing home voting conveyed joy and appreciation and said “आप लोगों ने अपना जो कर्त्तव्य किया है वो प्रशंसनीय है, बहुत अच्छा काम किया है कह सकता हूँ आपने जो अपने कर्तव्यों का निर्वहन किया है वो असाधारण है , ऐसे ही सब करें तो हमारा देश गौरवयुक्त हो जायेगा” (The duty you have
done is commendable, you have done a very good job, I can say that the way you
have discharged your duties is extraordinary, if all of us work like this then
we will make our country proud”)
Similar
stories are being reported from other parts of the country where home voting is
being conducted. These testimonials underscore the transformative impact of
home voting, not just as a logistical convenience but as a symbol of
inclusivity, empathy and empowerment within the democratic fabric of our
society. Identifying the 85-year-olds and the Persons with Disabilities in the
country’s vast electoral roll has in itself been a herculean task.
Another voter, Mittal said “बहुत ही खुशी हुई, बहुत प्रसन्नता हुई, की हम लोगों के लिए जो 85 साल से उम्र के ऊपर के लोग हैं उनको घर में ही वोट डालने की सुविधा दी है और ये चुनाव का सर्वोत्तम जो है.......उसके लिए मैं बहुत ही आभारी हूँ” (“I am very
happy, very happy, that for those of us who are above 85 years of age, we have
been given the facility to vote at home and this is the best thing about the
elections…. I am very grateful for this.”)
Home Voting Facility
The provision
of home voting is a progressive measure aimed at empowering voters who
encounter barriers to participating in the electoral process at the polling
stations. Specifically, this facility is extended to two key demographic
groups: persons with disabilities (PwDs) meeting the 40% benchmark disability
criteria and senior citizens aged above 85 years. By extending this optional
facility to these segments of the voters, the Election Commission recognizes
the need to ensure that citizens’ right to vote is not encumbered by physical
barriers and disabilities. This upholds the Commission’s motto of ensuring - No
voter is left behind.
The
procedure to avail this facility is simple yet thorough. Within five days of
the election notification, eligible voters must complete Form 12D and submit it
to the returning officer. PwD voters submit a baseline disability certificate
with their applications.
Booth
Level Officer (BLO) is responsible for retrieving Form 12D from the elector's
place of residence when the required documentation has been completed.
Candidates receive a list of these electors in order to maintain accountability
and transparency; if they wish, they can choose a representative to supervise
the process.
Following this, a dedicated team of polling officials along with security officials visits the voter's residence to collect their votes. Crucially, voters are notified ahead of time of the planned visit, allowing them to be prepared to exercise their right to vote in a safe and comfortable manner. To further expedite the procedure and improve accessibility, voters can also receive notifications via SMS about the days when their home voting facility will be active. The complete process is videographed for transparency.
This initiative underscores the ECI's dedication to
leveraging technology to enhance the electoral process. From digital
notifications to the deployment of videographers, the incorporation of
innovative solutions facilitates a seamless and transparent voting experience
for eligible individuals. As India gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,
the introduction of home voting stands as a testament to the ECIs unwavering
commitment to upholding participative, inclusive and accessible elections.
Photos
will be made available at https://elections24.eci.gov.in/