The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced special measures to enhance postal ballot accessibility for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, service voters, and those on election duty in the forthcoming Assembly elections across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. This initiative aims to promote inclusivity and ease participation in the electoral process.
Voters aged over 85 and persons with disabilities listed in electoral rolls can now vote from home via postal ballots under Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Eligible voters must apply using Form 12D within five days of election notification. Polling teams will collect ballots from homes following a pre-announced schedule.
The facility extends to essential service personnel—including fire, healthcare, electricity, traffic, ambulance, aviation workers, and long-distance government transport employees—who can apply for postal ballots through nodal officers in their departments. Media personnel authorized for election coverage are also included as absentee voters eligible for postal ballots.
Election duty personnel will vote at designated facilitation centers to ensure secrecy, receiving and submitting postal ballots onsite. Service voters, such as armed forces members and those posted abroad, will receive electronic postal ballots via the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), free of postal charges.
All postal ballots must reach Returning Officers by 8:00 am on May 4, the counting day. Returning Officers and District Election Officers will inform political parties and candidates about these provisions to ensure transparency and smooth operation.