ECI walks the extra mile to reach at the doorstep of elderly and PwD voters
No. ECI/PN/48/2024 12.04.2024
ECI Released Press Note On doorstep of Elderly and PwD voters
ECI walks the extra mile to reach at the doorstep 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.
(85+ elderly voters exercising vote using home voting facility in Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu & Rajasthan)
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Shri
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.
PwD voters in Churu Rajasthan
Mr. BR Mishra from Jaysingh Nagar, Madhya Pradesh, after availing home voting
conveyed joy and appreciation and said “आप लोगɉ नेअपना जो कƣå[ य ͩकया हैवो Ĥशंसनीय
है, बहुत अÍछा काम ͩकया हैकह सकता हूँआपनेजो अपनेकतå[ यɉ का Ǔनवहन[ ͩकया हैवो असाधारण
है , ऐसे हȣ सब करɅ तो हमारा देश गौरवयुÈत 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.
Smt. Rukmani Singh (91 yrs old) from 6-Moradabad PC and Shri Sumit Jain from Nagina PC in UP
Rajendra Lal Agarwal, 95 yrs, Alwar, Rajasthan Dimapur, Nagaland
Elderly voters using home voting facility in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Another voter, Mr. Mittal said “बहुत हȣ खुशी हुई, बहुत ĤसÛनता हुई, कȧ हम लोगɉ के ͧलए जो
85 साल सेउĨ के ऊपर के लोग हɇउनको घर मɅहȣ वोट डालनेकȧ सुͪवधा दȣ हैऔर येचुनाव का सवȾƣम
जो है…….उसके ͧलए मɇबहुत हȣ आभारȣ 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.”)
About 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
transparen
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/
