Hyderabad: Senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the city started voting on Friday, May 3, from their homes as part of the home voting initiative introduced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Starting on Friday, voters who have requested home voting using Form 12-D can now cast their votes. Election officials will be visiting the homes of these voters to collect their ballots.
In Hyderabad, 112 out of 121 registered home voters cast their ballot on the first day and in Secunderabad, 65 out of the 385 cast their vote.
The process will end tomorrow, May 5.
Despite, the state having more than 190,000 voters aged 85 and older, along with 520,000 voters with disabilities. However, only around 23,000 have signed up for home voting.
The ECI has provided the option of home voting for voters above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities with 40% or more benchmark disability.
The home voting initiative has been well received as it upholds the ECI’s motto of ensuring “No voter is left behind.”
This facility allows these eligible voters to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes, without having to physically visit the polling stations.
The process involves the voter submitting Form 12D within 5 days of the election notification, after which a dedicated team of polling officials and security personnel visits the voter’s residence to collect their vote.
The entire process is videographed for transparency.
(This is a developing story. The latest version will be updated)
