Daily News Analysis » Postal Ballots and Absentee Voters

Postal Ballots and Absentee Voters

Recently, political workers in Madhya Pradesh were seen confronting election officials for opening the strong room where postal ballots had been stored. It has raised questions about the security of the ballots.

Postal Ballots

  • Eligibility for Postal Ballots: Service voters, senior citizens over 80, voters with disabilities, COVID-19 patients, and those on election duty or under preventive detention can use postal ballots.
  • Distribution Process: The Returning Officer (RO) sends postal ballots to these voters via post or through facilitation centers for those on election duty.

Absentee Voters

  • Procedure for Absentee Voters: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) distribute Form 12D to absentee voters at their homes and collect them within five days.
  • Special Arrangements: For essential service workers, special voting centers are established for three days before the polling day.
  • Storage and Counting: Daily collected postal ballots are stored in a strong room. Before counting, they are transferred to the counting center’s strong room under armed guard.

 

Why in News:

  • Recently, political workers in Madhya Pradesh were seen confronting election officials for opening the strong room where postal ballots had been stored. It has raised questions about the security of the ballots.