Why in News?

For more convenience for those above 80 years of age and people with disabilities, the Election Commission has come out with a set of new instructions.

News in Detail:

• The form required to opt for the postal ballot would be delivered at the residence of all those aged above 80 and people with disabilities by the booth level officer under his polling station.
• It would be up to these two categories of voters to opt for postal ballot.
• If he/she opts for postal ballot, then the Booth Level Officer (BLO) will collect the filled-in form 12-D from the house of the elector within five days of the notification and deposit it with the returning officer forthwith.
• These instructions have been issued based on the feedback the poll panel received from civil society and media during its visit to poll-bound Bihar last week.
• The EC said the fresh instructions would be applicable to all elections and byelections.
• As per the instructions, the returning officer would deploy polling teams, which would deliver and collect the postal ballot on pre-informed dates and then deposit it with the returning officer.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ec-announces-new-rules-for-postal-ballot/article32768675.ece