POSTAL BALLOTS

Why in news?

ECI announces provision for postal voting.

 Postal ballots:

It refers to a method of voting where eligible voters receive their ballots by mail, rather than casting their votes in person at a polling station. This allows voters who are unable to physically attend a polling station, such as those living abroad, military personnel, or individuals with disabilities, to participate in elections.

Currently, the following voters are allowed to cast their votes through postal ballot:

Service voters: Members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and government employees deployed on election duty far from their home constituencies.

Absentee voters: Individuals unable to vote in person due to reasons like work commitments, illness, or disability.

Electors on election duty: Government officials and polling staff assigned duties at polling stations other than their own.

Electors under preventive detention: Individuals detained under preventive custody orders during the election period.

Essential services covering polling day activities: Media persons with authorisation letters from the EC and those involved in essential services such as metros, railways, and healthcare have the option to vote using postal ballots in Lok Sabha and four state Assembly polls.