We have heard about the postal ballot voting process, where government employees assigned election responsibilities complete their postal ballot voting before leaving for the places where they will carry out election duties.
However, in the Telangana elections, the Election Commission introduced “Home-Voting” for the first time. This new system facilitates elderly persons and handicapped voters to cast their votes at home.
To qualify for home-voting, individuals must be over 80 years old, and their disability should be more than 40 percent. This process eliminates the need for them to stand in queues during the voting process, making it more accessible.
The Election Commission’s decision is expected to significantly contribute to an increase in the overall voting percentage. According to reports, 27,178 people voted at home in Telangana.
The Election Commission delegated responsibilities to local police and BLOs (Booth Level Officers) to ensure the smooth operation of the Home-Voting process. The question now is how the Election Commission will count these home-votes—whether they will be counted separately like postal ballot votes or not.
On the day of judgment, the counting typically begins with postal ballots followed by general counting. In the postal ballot itself, trends of the parties can be observed. The Election Commission has done a commendable job by introducing this new system.
