The Elections Commission of India (ECI) today announced the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. The ECI said that senior citizens who are 85 years and older will be able to opt for postal ballots. The government, earlier in March, amended the rule to increase the eligibility from the current limit of 80 years and above.
As per the electoral roll published on February 8, out of the total 96.88 crore electors in the country, 1.85 crore were individuals aged above 80 years.
The Union Law Ministry, through a gazette notification, has amended the Conduct of Elections Rules-1961. The alteration involves revising the criteria for senior citizens eligible to utilise the postal ballot facility, shifting the threshold from "above 80 years" to "above 85 years." This adjustment follows consultations with the Election Commission of India, as stated in the notification.
The rules allow for postal ballot voting for a designated group of electors, which encompasses essential services workers, individuals with disabilities, those affected by COVID-19 (infected or suspected cases), and senior citizens. In Section 27(A) (e), senior citizens were previously defined as individuals aged above 80 years.
“In the conduct of Elections Rules-1961, in rule 27A, in clause (e), for the words and figures ―above 80 years, the words and figures ―above 85 years shall be substituted,” the notification said.
Such voters are required to send a letter of request to the Election Commission. The form can be downloaded from the ECI website. Upon permission, election officers will go to their homes with postal ballots for them to cast their votes.
The postal ballot facility was first extended to persons with disabilities, absentee voters working in essential services, and senior citizens (aged above 80 years) in 2019. This amendment to the Conduct of Elections Rules was made following a recommendation from the ECI (Election Commission of India).
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