New Delhi: Home voting facility for elderly voters and persons with disabilities (PWD) started in all seven parliamentary constituencies of Delhi from Thursday.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi, has started the facility which will continue till May 24. This is the first time that such a facility has been made available in the Lok Sabha elections, a statement from the poll body said.
It said home voting facility is available for voters above 85 years of age and those with disabilities, providing them the option to cast their vote from the comfort of their homes.
Veteran BJP leader VK Malhotra was among those who used the facility to exercise their franchise.
Delhi CEO P Krishnamurthy said his aim is to make electoral processes accessible to all and encourage greater participation."By providing voting facilities to senior citizens and the physically challenged at home, we express our care and respect towards them," he said.
In Delhi, 5,472 voters who are either above 85 years of age or are persons with disability (PWD) have filled Form 12D, which will enable them to avail home voting facility in the 2024 elections. If they choose to vote at polling booths instead, 8,000 volunteers and 4,000 wheelchairs have been deployed at polling locations to further facilitate their participation, the statement said.
Voting from home involves a full contingent of polling staff and security personnel and secrecy of voting is maintained, the statement said.
A dedicated team of polling officials and security personnel visits voters at their residence to collect their votes, ensuring that voters are informed in advance to be ready for the visit.Advance visit of Block Level Officers (BLOs) and SMS notifications informing about scheduled home polling days will further enhance convenience and accessibility. The entire process will be videographed to ensure transparency.
Malhotra, 92, used the home voting facility set up at his home in Rakabganj Roa under New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency to cast his vote on Thursday evening.
Malhotra said he has voted in all the elections held since 1952.
“I have been a proud voter in all elections since becoming eligible, never missing out on the democratic process.“This convenience of voting at home has given me the opportunity to ensure that I do not miss the opportunity to vote, especially considering that I now have some mobility issues. This unique convenience of voting from the comfort of home Strengthens the health of democracy by providing opportunities to eligible voters so that no voter is left behind,” he said.
Malhotra, a former BJP MP and former leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly, appealed to every eligible voter to cast his vote.
He said, “Everyone should participate in the elections and cast their vote."
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi, has started the facility which will continue till May 24. This is the first time that such a facility has been made available in the Lok Sabha elections, a statement from the poll body said.
It said home voting facility is available for voters above 85 years of age and those with disabilities, providing them the option to cast their vote from the comfort of their homes.
Veteran BJP leader VK Malhotra was among those who used the facility to exercise their franchise.
Delhi CEO P Krishnamurthy said his aim is to make electoral processes accessible to all and encourage greater participation."By providing voting facilities to senior citizens and the physically challenged at home, we express our care and respect towards them," he said.
In Delhi, 5,472 voters who are either above 85 years of age or are persons with disability (PWD) have filled Form 12D, which will enable them to avail home voting facility in the 2024 elections. If they choose to vote at polling booths instead, 8,000 volunteers and 4,000 wheelchairs have been deployed at polling locations to further facilitate their participation, the statement said.
Voting from home involves a full contingent of polling staff and security personnel and secrecy of voting is maintained, the statement said.
A dedicated team of polling officials and security personnel visits voters at their residence to collect their votes, ensuring that voters are informed in advance to be ready for the visit.Advance visit of Block Level Officers (BLOs) and SMS notifications informing about scheduled home polling days will further enhance convenience and accessibility. The entire process will be videographed to ensure transparency.
Malhotra, 92, used the home voting facility set up at his home in Rakabganj Roa under New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency to cast his vote on Thursday evening.
Malhotra said he has voted in all the elections held since 1952.
“I have been a proud voter in all elections since becoming eligible, never missing out on the democratic process.“This convenience of voting at home has given me the opportunity to ensure that I do not miss the opportunity to vote, especially considering that I now have some mobility issues. This unique convenience of voting from the comfort of home Strengthens the health of democracy by providing opportunities to eligible voters so that no voter is left behind,” he said.
Malhotra, a former BJP MP and former leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly, appealed to every eligible voter to cast his vote.
He said, “Everyone should participate in the elections and cast their vote."
