News Analysis India

Tag: Postal Ballot

  • Cannot give postal ballot facility to overseas Indian voters: Government in Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Postal ballot facility for eligible overseas Indian electors cannot be extended for the upcoming assembly polls as the matter is still under discussion with the Ministry of External Affairs to iron out logistical challenges in implementing the proposal, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

    Responding to a question, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply that the Election Commission had moved a proposal to amend the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 to facilitate Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for overseas electors.

    “Since the matter is still under discussion with the Ministry of External Affairs to iron out the logistical challenges involved in the implementation of the proposal, it will not be possible to extend the said facility to the overseas electors in the upcoming elections to the state legislative assemblies,” he said.

    West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are going to assembly polls beginning March 27.

    Speaking at an event last week, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had said that after the elections to five assemblies are over, the poll panel would hold a seminar with all stakeholders on the issue of postal ballot facility for overseas voters as suggested by the government.

    He hoped that the concept would materialise in the next six months or a year.

    At present NRIs can vote in the constituency in which their place of residence, as mentioned in the passport, is located.

    Some time ago Commission began to look for options to enable NRIs to vote from overseas after it received several requests for expanding voting options.

  • Bengal polls: Jhargram’s elderly woman casts first vote through doorstep facility

    By PTI
    JHARGRAM: Eighty-two-year-old Basanti Shit in West Bengal’s Jhargram district was among the first to have exercised her franchise in the assembly elections through doorstep voting facility, an official said on Wednesday.

    The octogenarian cast her vote from the comfort of her home on Tuesday as the Election Commission has made provision for voting through postal ballot for senior citizens above 80 years of age and persons with disability.

    Seven others from her ward, including six octogenarians and another person with disability, have also cast their votes through postal ballots.

    “A team of poll personnel and agents of parties, along with a few CRPF personnel and policemen went to the woman’s house on Tuesday morning.

    A cardboard structure was set up at her residence so that she can cast her vote in secret.

    “Her family members were not allowed to enter the room where the poll was conducted. The ballot paper was kept in an envelope and sealed in front of her. The polling process was videographed,” the EC official said.

    Four assembly constituencies in Jhargram will go to the polls in the first phase on March 27.

    Her grandson said she was delighted as she was able to exercise her franchise from home.

    “My grandma cannot walk properly. It would be very difficult for us to take her to the polling booth. As the Election Commission has allowed senior citizens and persons with disability to vote through postal ballots, we have opted for this. She is very happy,” the grandson said.

    Around 86 teams of polling personnel will visit residences of people who opted for the doorstep voting facility for the next six days ahead of the first phase polls, the official said.

    Electors who qualify to vote from home in Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia, where polling will be held in the first phase, will also get a chance later this week, he added.