What are postal ballots, and who can apply? | Lok Sabha elections 2024

The Election Commission of India has recently allowed media persons covering election activities to cast their vote through postal ballots in the upcoming general elections.

Mail-in ballots, also referred to as postal ballots, offer registered voters the option to vote by mail rather than visiting a polling station.

It is a convenient alternative for those who cannot vote in person due to reasons such as being away from their home district, having a disability, or fulfilling essential duties on election day.

So, who is eligible for postal ballots?

Military and government workers on election duty away from home.

People who can't go to the polling station due to work, sickness, or disability.

Election workers at a different polling station.

Those detained before the election.

Essential workers like media, transportation, and healthcare staff with permission can also use mail-in ballots.

To apply for a postal ballot, eligible voters must visit the Election Commission of India website and submit Form 12 D, to the returning officer of their constituency. The application requires personal details, voter identification information, and the reason for seeking a postal ballot.
The Returning Officer verifies and issues the postal ballot if the criteria are met.

For service voters, the Returning Officer sends the postal ballot paper through the record office, directly or through the Ministry of External Affairs for service voters serving outside India.

Process of voting:

1. Receiving the postal ballot: Once approved, the RO sends the postal ballot to the voter's registered address, including the ballot paper, declaration form, secrecy sleeve, and pre-paid return envelope.

2. Marking the ballot: Voters mark their preferred candidate(s) on the ballot paper in the secrecy sleeve to ensure confidentiality.

3. Completing the declaration form: Voters fill out the declaration form, providing their signature and other relevant details.

Sealing the envelope: Voters seal the marked ballot paper and declaration form inside the secrecy sleeve and place it into the pre-paid return envelope.

5. Returning the postal ballot: Voters affix the postage stamp and mail the return envelope to the designated address within the specified time.

Counting of postal ballots:

Postal ballots are counted separately from votes cast at polling stations.

On the designated counting day, postal ballots are collected by postal authorities and brought to the counting centre.

The Returning Officer and election officials scrutinise postal ballots for validity and integrity, adding valid ballots to the respective candidate's vote count.

Script and production: Richard Kujur

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[surajkumar-dbyu]

There should be mechanism that from one EVM people should be able to vote for any constituency. For eg: If I am staying in Pune, I should be able to go to nearby EVM and should be able to vote on my home constituency which is in Bihar. This will increase voter turnout

[VallabhaiR]

thanks for the video. Would appreciate if you could share the timelines and cut off dates.

[VallabhaiR]

12D form link is not available in the portal.

[alexranjan]

is this only for govt official and election duty person. can pvt employee also apply for this

[joansmichael]

Is this possible to vote, a person is belonging to one state and working in another state (same person) can do postal ballot vote.. if else kindly share registration process and also the link

[TheArypoo]

Please share link to the form 12D. It is unavailable on the ECI website.

[parvirghosh]

In this process ink is not applied on finger..is it true

[tigersathish]

Recently i had a knee surgery I am unable to move, how I can cast my vote in Telangana

[bapuramengti]

A person applied for postal ballot but not casted his vote through it due to a reason.Is it taken as that person has casted his vote? can he still cast his vote at the polling station on the polling day?

[seemameena]

Sir m government teacher hu other distric mera vote Jaipur m 19 ko lgega to kya meri chhutti rahegi

[Deeepakk]

What about students who are far away from home state?

[dibakarroy]

I'm having my 1st ever Election duty this year as a Presiding Officer for Postal Ballots. This 3 min video is more than the training given to us.

thanks for this video 😊