Chennai: The Election Commission has expanded postal voting eligibility for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, permitting essential-duty staff from five additional departments to vote by post, including fire services and the electricity sector.
According to the Commission, provisions under the Representation of the People Act already allow postal ballots for voters aged above 85 and for persons with disabilities. Eligible voters must submit Form 12D through the booth-level officer within five days of the election notification.
Teams assigned to collect votes will visit such voters at their residences to receive the postal ballots.
For voters engaged in essential services, applications for postal voting can be routed through coordination officers appointed in their respective departments. The facility covers services such as fire and rescue, public health, electricity, transport, ambulance services, aviation, and government transport corporations.
The Commission also said journalists deployed on election duty are eligible to cast their vote through postal ballot.
