Staff Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Feb 16: In keeping with the direction of Election Commission of India, postal ballot facility will be provided to persons with disabilities (PwDs) and voters above 80 years of age in the district. These categories of voters can now cast their votes through postal ballots.
Those who are Covid positive, suspect cases or are in quarantine (home/institutional) would also be able to cast their votes through postal ballots. The move is expected to help increase the voter turnout, a release stated. The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
The meeting presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dibrugarh, Nandita Baruah on February 12, decided to provide postal ballot facility for the absentee voters. The meeting was also attended by Dibrugarh Election Officer Hrishikesh Baruah, and representatives from Divyang Association and Senior Citizens’ Associations of Dibrugarh.
The absentee voters, which include persons with disabilities and senior citizens (above 80 years) and COVID positive/suspects in quarantine (home/ institutional) will have to submit 12D form to avail this facility.
ADC Naditia Baruah informed that the BLOs will visit the houses of the concerned electors, as per list provided by the RO, in the polling station area and deliver 12D form to the electors concerned. If an elector is not available, he/she will share his/her contact details and the BLO will revisit to collect it within five days of the notification. The elector may or may not opt for postal ballot in the acknowledgement attached with the 12D form. If he/she opts for postal ballot, then the BLO will collect the filled-in 12D form from the house of the elector within five days of the notification and deposit it with the RO, a release stated.
