Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 8: In a move aimed at making the electoral process more inclusive, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that senior citizens aged 85 and above, persons with benchmark disabilities (PwDs), and service voters will be allowed to cast their votes through postal ballots in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

This facility is being extended under Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission said in a press note.

Eligible voters can apply using Form 12D and submit it to their respective Returning Officers via their Booth Level Officers (BLOs) within five days of the election notification. Once approved, polling teams will visit these voters at their residences to collect their votes.

In addition to elderly and disabled voters, the postal ballot option is also being extended to those engaged in essential services on polling day. This includes personnel in sectors such as fire services, healthcare, electricity, traffic management, ambulance services, aviation, long-distance government transport, and accredited media professionals covering the elections.

For service voters—such as armed forces personnel—the ECI will transmit ballots electronically through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). These voters will not be required to bear any postal charges. Ballots will be sent immediately after the list of contesting candidates is finalized.

To ensure smooth implementation, the ECI has directed all Returning Officers and District Election Officers to inform political parties and candidates about these provisions.

The announcement comes shortly after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect following the declaration of election dates. The Commission has also issued firm instructions to both the chief secretary and chief electoral officer of Bihar to ensure strict compliance with the MCC, which restricts any new policy announcements by the state or central government during the election period.

The ECI’s expanded postal ballot policy reflects its broader commitment to accessible and fair elections, especially for vulnerable and frontline communities.