Agartala (Tripura) [India], April 6 (HBTV): People who are 85 years and above, and have disabilities can now have the option to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes from Tuesday, West Tripura District Election Officer Vishal Kumar said.
Kumar expressed the significance of the initiative, stating that the Election Commission of India has the motto that every vote matters.
Kumar highlighted the preparations involved including compiling a list of voters aged 85 and above, and persons with disabilities (PwD).
"The Election Commission of India has the motto that every vote matters. For this, we have prepared a list of voters who are 85+ years old and PwD people and have received requisition forms from them by March 25th. Now, from April 9th onwards, their votes will be collected from their homes," Vishal Kumar said.
Earlier, the Election Commission announced 'vote-from-home' facilities for citizens over 85 years of age and persons with disabilities for the Lok Sabha elections.
The commission said that voters above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities with a 40 percent benchmark disability can vote from home. The commission said that at polling stations, volunteers and wheelchairs will be deployed and transport facilities for persons with disabilities and the elderly will be arranged.
The chief electoral officer of Tripura, Puneet Agarwal, hailed home voting as a significant step towards increasing voter turnout nationwide.
‘Home voting is a major step by the Election Commission of India to increase the voting percentage throughout the nation. During the previous assembly elections, home voting was there and now during the Lok Sabha Election in Tripura, home voting is initiated,’ Agarwal said.
Agarwal outlined the specific dates for home voting in different constituencies.
"The home voting for the 1-West Tripura Lok Sabha Constituency Election and the 7-Ramnagar By-election Election is going to be on April 10th and 12th. And for the 2-East Tripura Lok Sabha Constituency Election, the home voting dates are April 17th and 18th," he added.
(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.