Puducherry Assembly election: Arrangements in place to facilitate home voting for elderly, persons with disabilities

The Election Department, on the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), is making special arrangements for home voting for 2,066 electors above 85 years of age and for 1,621 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the April 9 Assembly elections.

According to a press note from the ECI, 34.31% of the total number of electors in the 85 plus age segment and 11.6% of PwD voters have been approved for availaing the facility in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The home voting option is provided to 1,67,361 voters over 85 years of age and 70,499 PwD electors in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry going to the polls concurrently, as per Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the ECI said.

The elector will be informed of the schedule of home voting in advance and a team of polling officials will visit the residence to collect the vote.

Home voting in Puducherry has already commenced and will be completed by April 5.

A team led by the District Election Officer had launched the efforts by facilitating a centenarian voter Heerabai to cast her vote at her residence on Sathani Street, Kosapalayam in Nellithope Assembly constituency.

As per procedure, a videographer accompanied the polling officials along with police security cover to record the process to ensure utmost transparency while preserving the secrecy of the 102-year-old woman voter.

According to the ECI, a second visit will also be undertaken if the voter is not available during the first visit. The contesting candidates of recognised political parties are provided a list of electors availing the home voting facility.

As per procedure, all candidates are informed about the schedule of the visits of the polling teams, and if they wish, they can depute their representative to accompany the teams after intimation in Form 10 to the Returning Officer.

Those in these two categories who have not opted for the optional home voting facility will be provided with all necessary facilities at the polling stations, including volunteers, wheelchairs, and other assistance, to ensure a comfortable voting experience, the ECI said.