In the ensuing by-polls the octogenarians and Divyang voters will be able to cast their votes from home.
The novel initiative by the Election Commission was aimed at making sure that everyone notwithstanding old age ailments or for that matter physical inabilities -exercises his or rights in the elections.
Returning Officer and also Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sadar- Aashim Saha said, the polling party would go door to door to facilitate the voters above 80 years and the persons with disability. They would be able to cast their votes through postal ballots.
Form 12(D) has already been provided as per the guidelines of the Election Commission, he said.
Speaking to the reporters on the sideline of a training programme for polling personnel, Saha said, 291 octogenarian and PWD voters in 6- Agartala and 390 in 8- Town Bordowali showed interest to exercise their democratic rights through postal ballots.
According to Saha, the number of target voters in the 80 plus age group was more but many of them were unwilling to vote through postal ballots.
After printing of postal ballots, the polling team would visit the voters’ home twice– if anyone misses his/ her vote on the first day, they would be able to cast votes on the second day. In case of non-availability of any voter on the second day, the postal ballot will be sent to the strong room, he told the reporters.
He said, postal ballot (PB) marking would be done in the electoral roll of such voters. If the voters, who opted for the postal ballots, fail to cast votes through postal ballots, they would not be able to exercise their democratic rights in the polling stations due to PB marking, he added.
