Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 20 (HBTV): People aged 85 years and over will now have the option to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said on Tuesday. 

Giving details about the vote count, he said, the overall voter count in Madhya Pradesh stands at 5, 64,76,110, including 2.90 crore males and 2.74 crore females.

‘The number of new voters in the 18 to 19 age group stands at 16,49,641 while the state has 2,89,503 voters who are above 85+ years. The work of adding the names in the voter list will continue till 10 days before the filing of the nomination,’ he added. 

Earlier, in a first the Election Commission announced 'vote-from-home' facilities for citizens who are in the age group of 85 years and above and persons with disabilities for the Lok Sabha elections. 

The commission said voters above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities with a 40 per cent benchmark disability can vote from home. The commission said polling stations volunteers and wheelchairs will be deployed. Further, transport facilities for persons with disabilities and the elderly will be arranged too, the commission stated.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases in Madhya Pradesh. The first phase will be held on April 19 and polling for the last phase in the state will be held on May 15. The voting in Bhopal will take place in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls.  

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.