Section 2 in Guidelines for Voting through postal ballot by Absentee Voters in the category of Senior Citizens, PwDs and Covid-19 suspect or affected persons
2. Process for applying PB by absentee voters.
(2.1) An Absentee Voter wishing to vote by postal ballot has to make application to the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency concerned, in Form-12D, giving all requisite particulars. Such application seeking postal ballot facility should reach to the RO from date of announcement of election to five days following the date of notification of the election concerned.(2.2) As per the amended provisions under Rule 27E and 27-I of CER, 1961 the issue of Postal ballot paper to the absentee voter and return of the ballot paper after voting shall be in such manner as the Commission may direct. Accordingly, the Commission has laid down the following procedure/guidelines for facilitating voting through postal ballot by the absentee voters of senior citizen category (AVSC), absentee voters belonging to PWD category (AVPD) and absentee voters belonging to COVID 19 category (AVCO)(2.3) If any elector at the time of election is hospitalized on account of COVID-19, in a hospital within the State or is in Home/ Institutional Quarantine on account of COVID-19 and hence not be in a position to cast vote personally at the polling station as per medical advice and if such elector makes request for issue of Postal Ballot, the RO concerned, on being satisfied about the genuineness of the application, shall provide the postal ballot to the elector. The RO shall make arrangement to deliver Postal Ballot and to get the same collected back from the said elector before the date fixed for poll in the Constituency. This arrangement shall be made in coordination with the Nodal Officer for COVID-19, designated by the Chief Secretary, on the directions of the Commission. Application for postal ballot paper from such electors (Form 12D) should be accompanied by copy of certificate/ instructions from competent health authorities which show that the applicant is hospitalized in the State or is in quarantine within the State (Home or Institutional) on account of COVID 19.2.4In case of absentee voters belonging to PWD category (AVPD),who opt for postal ballot, application (Form 12D) should be accompanied by a copy of benchmark disability certificate (not less than 40% of a specified disability)as certified by the concerned certifying authority, under Section 2 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
