Delhi polls: PwD voters, those above 80 to have postal ballot option

New Delhi: People with disabilities (PwD) and those aged above 80 will be able to cast their votes using postal ballots in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, the chief electoral officer said on Friday.

After the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules by the law ministry, the Election Commission had notified that all citizens above 80 years of age and PwD-marked voters in the electoral rolls will have the option of exercising their franchise either through postal ballots or by voting at their respective polling stations. Such voters will have to mark themselves in the category to avail the option, using the voter helpline application or by visiting the voter centres, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi Ranbir Singh told reporters here.

In a first, people with disabilities and those above 80 years of age will be able to cast their votes using postal ballots in the five-phase Jharkhand Assembly polls, commencing from November 30.

According to Singh, the national capital currently has over 44,000 PwD voters.

Meanwhile, the Delhi poll panel has urged voters to check their names in the draft electoral rolls published on Friday and asked them to report errors to officials to ensure they can cast their vote in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said the draft electoral roll has been published on Friday and till December 16, people can file their claims and objections, which will be taken up and disposed of by December 26.

"People can check their names in the electoral roll by visiting the website of the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, voter helpline application etc. On November 23 and 24, there will be special camps held at all designated stations for the purpose," he told reporters.

The final electoral roll will be published on January 6, 2020 and those who have turned 18 or will be turning 18 on or before January 1, 2020, can also get their names added in the voter list by filling Form-6, Singh said.

One can apply for correction in details through Form-8 and apply for deletion of multiple entries or in case of death of a family member, get their name deleted by filling Form-7, he said.