THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unlike the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, there will be no ‘vote from home’ facility in this local body elections for voters aged 85 or above and those in the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. Instead, the State Election Commission (SEC) will ensure that such voters receive priority access and necessary support at all 33,711 polling stations.
“The Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and Kerala Municipalities Act that govern the conduct of local body elections do not have any provision for home voting,” State Election Commissioner A Shajahan told TNIE. He said it was made available in the previous local body elections only for Covid-positive voters, since the polls were held under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Various associations representing PwDs had given representations to the state poll panel to provide the facility in the local body elections. However, SEC sources said its introduction would require amendments to the two Acts by the assembly.
Prajith P, co-founder of Mobility in Dystrophy Trust, said home voting would be beneficial to PwD electors, especially those with severe disabilities such as muscular dystrophy or fragile bone disease. “They would require the help of at least two people to vote,” he said.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 17.3% of PwD category voters availed the facility. However, it was effectively utilised by elderly voters.
“For a large section of the elderly with mobility issues, the facility was a boon. The laws should be amended to incorporate the facility in the local body polls,” said A Salahuddeen Kunju, president, Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Thiruvananthapuram.