ECI to facilitate Elderly, PwD and Service Voters and voters on election duty to vote using Postal Ballot in the upcoming Assembly Elections

**Executive Summary** The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced postal ballot facilities for specific voter categories in the 2026 Assembly Elections for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Eligible electors must submit relevant forms within five days of the election notification to utilize this facility. All postal ballots must reach the respective Returning Officers by 8:00 AM on the counting date, May 4, 2026. **Key Points / Main Content** **Eligibility for Postal Ballots** * **Elderly and PwD Voters:** Electors above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) flagged in the Electoral Rolls are eligible. * **Essential Services:** Personnel in services such as Fire, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance, Aviation, and long-distance Government Road Transport are covered. * **Media Professionals:** Commission-authorized media persons covering the poll are classified as absentee voters on essential services. * **Service and Duty Voters:** Service voters and personnel on election duty are entitled to use postal ballots. **Application and Collection Process** * **Form 12 D:** Elderly and PwD voters must submit Form 12 D to the Returning Officer (RO) via their Booth Level Officer (BLO) within five days of the election notification. * **Home Collection:** Polling teams will visit the homes of elderly and PwD electors to collect votes based on a schedule shared with candidates. * **Facilitation Centers:** Voters on election duty will receive and cast their ballots at designated facilitation centers to ensure voting secrecy. * **Nodal Officers:** Essential service workers and media personnel must apply through the designated Nodal officer of their respective departments. **Service Voters and Technology** * **ETPBS:** Service voters will receive ballots electronically via the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) once the candidate list is finalized. * **Cost Waiver:** Service voters are not required to pay for postal services. **Administrative Requirements** * **Briefings:** ROs and District Election Officers (DEOs) are mandated to brief political parties and candidates on these postal ballot provisions. * **Deadline for Receipt:** All cast postal ballots must reach the RO by 8:00 AM on May 4, 2026. **Impact Analysis** **Elderly (85+) and PwD Voters** **Impact** These voters gain the convenience of casting their votes from their residences, removing physical barriers to participation. **Action Required** Submit Form 12 D to the Returning Officer through the BLO within five days of the election notification. **Essential Service Personnel and Authorized Media** **Impact** Ensures that individuals performing critical duties or reporting on the election can exercise their franchise despite being on duty on poll day. **Action Required** Apply for the postal ballot facility through the designated Nodal officer of their respective department. **Voters on Election Duty** **Impact** Provides a secure and secret method for officials managing the election to vote while at their duty stations. **Action Required** Record and return the postal ballot at the provided facilitation center. **Service Voters** **Impact** Benefits from a modernized, electronic delivery system for ballots at no personal cost. **Action Required** Access and return the ballot electronically transmitted via the ETPBS system following the finalization of the candidate list. **Returning Officers (ROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs)** **Impact** Tasked with additional logistical coordination, including home visits and electronic transmissions. **Action Required** Prepare and share home collection schedules with candidates and conduct briefings for political parties regarding postal ballot rules.

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