The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar and the bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of 6 States and the UT of Jammu & Kashmir on October 6, 2025. Electors above the age of 85 years and electors with benchmark disabilities may cast their vote through postal ballot, as per Section 60 (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. To avail this facility, electors must use Form 12 D and submit it to the Returning Officer through their BLO within 5 days of issuance of notification of election. Polling teams will collect their votes at their homes. Electors on essential services, including Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, long-distance Government Road Transport Corporations, and media persons authorized by the Election Commission for poll day coverage can also apply for the postal ballot facility through the designated Nodal officer of their respective department. Service voters will be sent their postal ballots electronically via the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) immediately after the list of contesting candidates is finalized and are not required to bear the cost of postal services. The Returning Officer/District Election Officer have been directed to brief the political parties/contesting candidates regarding these provisions. (Release ID: 2176283) The information was posted on 08 OCT 2025 at 3:41 PM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India (ECI): The primary regulator responsible for announcing the postal ballot facilitation policy.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: Section 60(c) of this act forms the basis for the policy regarding postal ballots for specific voter categories.
Bihar: State where the policy regarding postal ballots is being implemented for the Legislative Assembly elections.
Postal Ballot: The method of voting facilitated for elderly, PwD and service voters.
Election Commission
ECI to facilitate Elderly, PwD and Service Voters to
vote using Postal Ballot in the Bihar Assembly
elections
Posted On: 08 OCT 2025 3:41PM by PIB Delhi
1. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to the
Legislative Assembly of Bihar and the bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies of 6 States and
the UT of Jammu & Kashmir on October 6, 2025.
2. The Commission, as per Section 60 (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has notified
that electors above the age of 85 years and electors with benchmark disabilities may cast their
vote through postal ballot.
3. Such electors can avail this facility using Form 12 D and submit to the Returning Officer through
their BLO within 5 days of issuance of notification of election. Polling teams will collect their
votes at their homes.
4. Electors on essential services on the date of poll can apply for the postal ballot facility through
the designated Nodal officer of their respective department. Essential services such as Fire
Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, long-distance Government
Road Transport Corporations etc. are covered under this facility.
5. Media persons authorized by the Election Commission for poll day coverage have also been
included in the category of absentee voters on essential services and are entitled to postal ballot
facility.
6. Service voters will be sent their postal ballots electronically by the Returning officer through the
Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), immediately on finalization of list of
contesting candidates. Service voters are not required to bear the cost of postal services.
7. The Returning Officer/District Election Officer have also been directed to brief the political
parties/contesting candidates regarding the above provisions.
*****
PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2176283)