Expert Explains: Special categories of voters, their voting methods

POSTAL BALLOTS

‘Postal ballot’ allows voters who cannot be physically present in polling stations to vote remotely, as specified in Section 60 of the RPA. This method differs from normal voting in three ways.

• Polling takes place outside the polling station;
• It takes place without EVMs (EDC voters are an exception — more on them later);
• Polling takes place before the designated poll poll date in the constituency.

As per Rule 18 of The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, the following classes of persons are entitled to vote by postal ballot:

1. Special voters: Individuals holding declared office under Section 20(4) of RPA, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Cabinet Ministers, other high-ranking dignitaries, etc. and their spouses.
2. Service voters: Members of the Indian armed forces, paramilitary forces, an armed state police member serving outside their state, or a government employee stationed abroad and their spouses residing with them.
3. Voters on election duty: This includes all Commission’s observers, presiding officers, polling officers and agents, police personnel, and public servants assigned official tasks on polling day. Private individuals and non-government staff, such as videographers, control room staff, drivers, conductors, cleaners, helpline staff, etc., are also covered.
4. Electors subjected to preventive detention
5. Absentee voters under Section 60 (c) of RPA, 1951: In 2019, the Election Commission created the ‘Absentee Voters’ category. This includes senior citizens aged 85+ (AVSC), persons with disabilities having at least 40% disability (AVPD), Covid-19 suspect or affected persons (AVCO), and persons employed in essential services (AVES). AVES includes officials certified to be on duty on the day of the poll but not on election duty, including railways, telecom, electricity, health, traffic, aviation, fire services, media persons authorised by ECI for poll day coverage, etc.

Those eligible for postal voting must submit a formal application to the Returning Officer within a set timeframe. Service voters and electors under Preventive Detention automatically receive postal ballots. Once issued, these voters cannot vote in person. Their name on the electoral roll will be marked with ‘PB’, except for Service voters, who have a separate part of the electoral roll in each constituency. Special voters, service voters, and the electors subjected to preventive detention can return their PBs by post.

In 2016, Rule 23 was amended to introduce the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for Service Voters, speeding up the delivery of postal ballots. ETPBS features encrypted ballots sent electronically via a secure portal. While the ballot is transmitted electronically, voters return their completed ballots via post at no cost.

FACILITATION CENTRES, POSTAL VOTING CENTRES

Rule 18A, introduced in 2022, mandates voters on election duty to vote at designated Facilitation Centers using postal ballots. Previously, these voters could take their ballots home, which led to the risk of undue influence. These centres are located at training venues and designated offices, and operate before the election. The voting process, which is videotaped, involves casting votes into a steel trunk. After voting, postal ballots are placed in labelled cotton bags and kept in a strong room.

Similarly, an appropriate venue and room for the Postal Voting Centre (PVC) are identified to facilitate voting by absent voters in the Essential Services (AVES) category. These voters may come to get their postal ballots issued and cast a vote on any of the three fixed days from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The contesting candidates are notified about the location and schedules of these centres, and can send observers who are allowed to sign the postal ballot register and receive a copy.

HOME VOTING

Over 81 lakh 85+ aged voters and 90 lakh PwD voters are registered in the electoral roll nationwide. For absentee voters over 85 (AVSC), PwD (AVPD) and AVCO, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deliver Form 12D and compulsorily obtain acknowledgements from them. If the elector opts for the Postal Ballot, then the BLO collects the form for home voting within five days of the election’s notification.

For home voting, teams consisting of two poll officers, a police security officer, a micro-observer, and a videographer are formed. Voters are notified of visits via SMS, post, or BLO; if a voter is unavailable after two attempts, no further action is taken.

Candidates, their agents, and media personnel are informed of the schedule and can observe the process. All visits are completed the day before the polls.

MISCELLANEOUS

Voting in a different polling centre

Suppose a person on election duty is deployed in the same constituency where they are enrolled as a voter. In that case, the Returning Officer can issue the applicant an Election Duty Certificate (EDC). This entitles them to vote at a polling station through EVM where they are on duty, which is not the station where they are enrolled as a voter since they are deputed through randomisation. However, if they are on duty in another constituency, they are entitled only to a postal ballot.

Proxy voting

Service voters in the Armed and paramilitary forces can vote either by proxy or postal ballot. Those who choose the proxy voting method are known as ‘Classified Service Voters’ (CSVs). They must appoint a local resident as their proxy. The proxy votes at the designated polling station and indelible ink is applied to their left middle finger to indicate proxy voting.

Assisted Voting

Suppose an elector is unable to vote due to blindness or other disability. In that case, the Presiding Officer may allow them to bring a companion over 18 into the voting booth to record a vote on their behalf. The indelible ink is applied to the companion’s right index finger in such cases.