Lok Sabha elections 2024: What's the vote-from-home facility? Know eligibility and procedure

Preparations for the seven-phase 2024 Lok Sabha elections are in full swing around the country, with the Election Commission leaving no stone unturned to make this ‘mammoth exercise’ inclusive and accessible.

For the first time in the history of Indian general elections, the poll panel has announced plans to extend its ‘vote-from-home’ facility to senior citizens aged 85 and above and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

Voting for the 2024 elections will take place across the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies in India in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4.

To make people's participation more inclusive, the postal ballot facility has been amended to include senior citizens (85 and above) and PwD candidates -- with the benchmark disability not less than 40% of the specified disability.

“Generally, the tendency has been that the senior citizens want to participate in the process and walk to the booth. But this time, we have given them options to vote in their homes,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on March 16.

However, those citizens, who opt for home voting facilities, will not be eligible to vote directly at the polling station.

The Election Commission's move will allow over 85 lakh senior citizens and more than 88 lakh persons with disabilities to cast their votes through postal ballots in the 2024 elections.

Earlier, this facility was tried out by the poll panel during the Assembly elections in a few states, allowing senior citizens, PwD and those who tested positive for COVID-19 to vote from home.

However, this time, the poll body has increased the upper age limit for senior citizens from 80 to 85 years.

Further, the postal ballot option has been extended to media persons, who are covering elections and have authorisation letters from the EC.

Those who are eligible for this facility will have to fill out Form 12D and inform the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) that they may not be able to visit the polling station to vote. One can download this form from the official website of the Election Commission at www.eci.gov.in.

Also, Form 12D can be collected from the office of the representative district officer of a Lok Sabha constituency. Distribution of this form has already started in a few cities.

After this, polling officials along with a videographer and a security person will visit the eligible person's home to oversee the postal ballot voting process, The Hindu reported.

The voter will get a prior intimation about the date and time of the visit through SMS or post.