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Chennai's Postal Voting for Elderly & Disabled on April 15-16

Postal voting for senior citizens above 85 and differently-abled voters in Chennai will be conducted on April 15 and 16. A total of 35,916 eligible voters have been identified, with nearly 9,000 opting for the home voting facility. Ninety-six special polling teams, each with videographers and micro-observers, will visit residences to collect ballots. The process emphasizes voter independence, ballot secrecy, and full transparency, with training supervised by the Chennai Corporation Commissioner.

Key Points: Chennai Postal Voting for Senior, Disabled Voters April 15-16

  • Postal voting for 85+ & disabled
  • 96 teams to visit homes
  • Process on April 15-16
  • Strict secrecy & transparency
2 min read

Postal voting for elderly, differently-abled in Chennai set for April 15-16

Postal voting for Chennai's elderly & differently-abled voters set for April 15-16. Over 35,000 eligible, with 96 teams visiting homes.

"ensure that voters exercise their franchise independently without any external influence - Training officials"

Chennai, April 12

Postal voting for senior citizens and differently-abled voters in Chennai will be conducted on April 15, with April 16 reserved as an additional day for those unable to cast their vote on the first day, Greater Chennai Corporation officials said.

The initiative is part of the Election Commission's efforts to ensure inclusive participation in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Across 16 constituencies in the city, a total of 23,415 senior citizens aged above 85 and 12,501 differently-abled voters have been identified. Of these, around 8,947 voters have opted to cast their vote from home through the postal ballot facility by submitting Form 12D.

Officials said elaborate arrangements have been put in place to facilitate a smooth and transparent process.

As many as 96 polling teams will be deployed across the city to collect votes directly from voters' residences. Each team will comprise two polling officers, a police officer, a videographer, and a micro-observer to ensure strict adherence to electoral guidelines.

Voters who have opted for the facility will be informed in advance about the date and time of the visit by polling teams.

Authorities emphasised that all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure that voting is conducted freely, fairly, and in complete secrecy.

Meanwhile, polling personnel engaged in election duties will also cast their postal ballots between April 16 and 17. The voting for these officials will take place at three designated centres in the city, the locations of which are expected to be finalised shortly.

Training for the polling teams was conducted on April 8 at Ripon Buildings under the supervision of Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran.

During the session, officials were instructed to ensure that voters exercise their franchise independently without any external influence and that the confidentiality of the ballot is strictly maintained.

After casting their votes, voters will seal their ballot papers and place them in secure ballot boxes carried by the polling teams. The collected ballots will be documented daily, stored under the custody of returning officers, and the details will be electronically submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer to maintain transparency and accountability in the process.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good step, but I hope the process is truly secret. Having a whole team come to your house might make some elderly voters feel pressured. The videographer and micro-observer are crucial for transparency, but we must ensure voter comfort and independence.
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David E
Interesting to see such a detailed system in place. The scale is impressive - nearly 9,000 voters opting for home voting. The daily documentation and electronic submission sound robust. Hope this model can be replicated in other states.
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Shreya B
As someone with a differently-abled family member, I appreciate this so much. Going to a crowded polling booth is a major challenge. This facility respects their right to participate with dignity. Well done, Chennai Corporation! 👏
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Aryan P
Only around 25% of identified voters have opted in (8947 out of ~36,000). We need better awareness campaigns. Many seniors might not know about Form 12D or might distrust the process. Local volunteers should help spread the word.
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Meera T
The training at Ripon Buildings is a good sign. It shows they are taking this seriously. My only request: please ensure the polling teams are patient and explain each step clearly to our elders. For many, this might be a new and confusing process.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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