Delhi assembly elections: 80+ and disabled people can vote via postal ballot

NEW DELHI: Senior citizens aged above 80 and persons with disabilities (PwD) will be able to cast their votes through postal ballot in the Delhi assembly elections due early next year.

Delhi chief electoral officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh said amendments have been made to Conduct of Election Rules for people who find it difficult to reach polling stations, thus allowing them to cast their votes from home.As of now, there are 1.8 lakh voters above the age of 80 registered in Delhi. There are 44,000 PwD voters.
The annual summary revision exercise will continue till December 16 during which eligible voters can check their names in the electoral roll and apply afresh if their names are missing or if they are turning 18 on January 1, 2020.
“Special camps will be held on November 23 and 24 for this purpose,” said Singh.
There are over 13 lakh voters (9% of total electorate) whose names couldn’t be verified during the recently concluded Electors Verification Programme (EVP) as they were either absent at the given address, had shifted or passed away. “These names have not been deleted yet. Election Commission of India has stopped suo motu deleting of voters’ names from the electoral roll if they are not found on the given address repeatedly by the booth-level officer. We have asked district election officers to carry out proper verification. The names will only be deleted if we are informed through the relevant form,” Singh said.
Officials said those who are registered as voters at multiple places can easily be found through a special software. BLOs of the areas where the name of the voter is registered will physically verify and remove the entry from the list.
The poll body has also asked political parties to help make the electoral roll error-free. Special camps will be held in schools, colleges and educational institutions on November 28 and 29 to enroll young voters. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) shelters will hold special camps on December 7 from 5pm to 9pm for homeless citizens.