Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Home voting covers more than 50% of eligible voters in Kozhikode

The home voting option introduced for differently abled persons and senior citizens above the age of 85 has already covered over 50% of the total eligible voters in Kozhikode district. All 19,754 electors eligible to cast their votes from home will be covered under the process by April 4, 2026.

According to election authorities, voters who submitted applications for home voting will not be allowed to cast their votes at polling booths. On completion of the home voting exercise, the details will be recorded in the electoral roll for further checks, they said.

On the first day itself, more than 3,000 voters cast their votes using the home voting option. Officials said a special team comprising two polling officials, a micro observer, a videographer, and a police officer was assigned to each of the 13 assembly constituencies to complete the task. Booth Level Officers were entrusted with local coordination in their respective areas.

Many senior voters who availed of the home voting service from March 30 expressed satisfaction with the door-step facility. A senior woman voter from Puthiyangadi said the officers completed the process in a “peaceful and caring” manner without any rush. She added that the procedures were explained clearly in advance for better understanding.  

According to official data, home voting was permitted for 7,870 elderly voters and 11,884 differently abled voters. Only those who submitted Form 12 were granted the option. Official records show that the total number of voters above the age of 85 was 16,278, while the total number of differently abled voters was 32,232.

The ‘Vote from Home’ option launched during the 2024 general election covered 13,504 voters in the district. It included 9,360 senior citizens and 4,144 persons with disabilities, out of a total of 15,404 applicants. According to official figures, 89% of eligible senior citizens and about 85% of differently abled voters were covered under the initiative.

In Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency, 6,024 voters availed of the home voting option, including 4,195 senior citizens and 1,829 persons with disabilities. In Vadakara constituency, it benefitted 7,480 voters, including 5,165 elderly voters and 2,315 persons with disabilities.

Across Kerala, a little over 1.42 lakh elderly citizens and persons with disabilities exercised their franchise using the home voting facility. According to the Election Commission’s records, 1,02,285 voters were senior citizens, while the number of differently abled persons was 40,514.