Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Apr 30: Election Commission of India has started a unique attempt to allow voters, who are 80 years and above and differently-abled citizens to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes. The process has just begun. More than 33,000 people so far have voted from their homes for the first time.

On Saturday, April 29, registered voters who are 80 years and above and differently-abled citizens have cast their votes through the ballot paper. The process will go on till May 6.

Veteran actress Leelavati has also cast her vote from home. Voting from home exercise began in 22 districts. However, in the remaining districts, the exercise will begin in another two days, according to chief election officer.

Voting from home has been activated between 9 am and 5 pm. Secret ballot has been employed. 2,542 teams are involved in the home voting process. They will travel in 2,706 routes. Out of this, 1,627 teams have travelled in as many routes on Saturday and got 33,000 citizens to cast their votes. Voting took place in the presence of two election officers, a videographer, one police personnel and a few political party agents.

In total, 99,259 citizens have registered their names to vote from home. There are 12.15 lac voters in the state who are more than 80 years of age. Out of them 5.46 lac are men, 6.69 lac are women and 16 are others. Out of this, 80,250 of them have registered their names to cast their votes from home.

There are 5.71 lac differently-abled voters in the state. Among them 3.35 lac are men, 2.35 lac are women and 61 are others. Out of these, 19,279 voters have registered to cast their votes from home.