Page 20 - General Election

In a proactive move, the Election Commission has instructed the Chief Electoral Officers of

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana to disseminate information
and provide necessary assistance to senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities regarding the
home voting facility.

Additionally, the ECI is addressing the transportation needs of senior citizens and differently-

abled individuals who choose to visit polling stations. The Commission ensures that
transportation is provided without allowing political parties to influence voters by offering
transport. Following ECI's guidelines, all polling stations are mandated to have wheelchairs

available for the convenience of senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.

The impact of these measures is evident from the 2019 General Elections when the ECI allowed
disabled individuals and those over 80 years old to cast their votes through the postal ballot.

This initiative significantly contributed to an increased voter turnout. In the 2019 Lok Sabha
elections, approximately 60.14 percent of absentee voters utilized the e-postal ballot, marking a
substantial increase compared to the 2014 general elections, where only 4 percent of absentee
voters opted for this method. The ECI anticipates that these efforts will further boost voter

participation in the upcoming elections across the five State Assemblies.

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