For first time in Gujarat, elderly, differently abled can vote from their homes

BY-POLLS TO 8 ASSEMBLY SEATS

Voters who are impaired or above 80 years of age can register for postal ballot option; EC team will come to their house with ballot and videograph the process to ensure transparency

Every vote matters. And to make this a reality, for the first time in Gujarat, the Election Commission has decided to extend the option of postal ballot for electors who are differently abled and people above the age of 80. This will enable them to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes in the upcoming by-polls to eight Assembly constituencies.

There are a total of about 18 lakh voters in Abdasa, Limbdi, Morbi, Dhari, Gadhada, Karjan, Dang and Kaprada constituencies which will go to vote on November 3. The Gujarat Chief Electoral Office has received registration forms from around 50,000 voters that fall under these two categories.

Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Murli Krishna said, “We have received the registrations from the eight constituencies. Of these, 13,000 are from differently abled people. Those who want to avail themselves of the facility will have to inform us and we will send our team to their house on voting day so they can cast their vote through postal ballot.”

There are 3,024 polling booths in these eight constituencies. The counting will take place on November 10. He explained that this postal ballot facility is different from the one extended to service voters. Here, those willing to use the facility have to fill up a form. Officials then carry the ballot to the residence of such voters and videograph the voting to ensure transparency.

Door to door campaign to begin next week “We will begin door-to-door campaign next week to hand over voting slips. We are also distributing voter’s guide (with dos and don'ts) that lists the facilities that have been offered to such voters,” he said.


Since the by-polls are being held during the coronavirus pandemic, voters who go to polling stations will be given gloves and sanitisers to ensure their safety. Voters will be checked with thermal guns at the entrance, and not allowed to crowd at the booth.

If a voter’s temperature is found to be high, s/he will be asked to wait in an isolation area specially created for suspect Covid-19 cases.

NSS, NCC members will be asked to volunteer at polling booths They will be given tokens and asked to return at the last hour of the poll day at their respective polling stations to cast their votes.


Usually there is a team of four officials at the polling booths but considering the Covid-19 pandemic, the CEO office has decided to allow two more persons including Asha workers or mid-day meal workers and paramedic staff. The CEO Gujarat will also seek help from NSS and NCC, which has no political alliance with any party, to volunteer and help voters visiting the polling booths.

About 850 voters from defence and other services in these constituencies will be given postal ballot facility. “They will be sent their ballot paper via e-mail. They will have to take a printout, mark their vote, and send it via post to the office.”