By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will facilitate the elderly, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and service electors to vote using postal ballots in the Bihar Assembly polls.

The Commission has notified that electors above the age of 85 years and those with benchmark disabilities may cast their vote through a postal ballot. “Such electors can avail themselves of this facility using Form 12 D and submit to the Returning Officer through their BLO (Booth Level Officer) within five days of the issuance of the notification of election. Polling teams will collect their votes at their homes,” said the poll body on Wednesday (October 9, 2025).

The electors on essential services on the date of poll can apply for the postal ballot facility through the designated nodal officer of their respective department. Essential services, including Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, and long-distance Government Road Transport Corporations, are covered under this facility.

“Media persons authorised by the Election Commission for poll day coverage have also been included in the category of absentee voters on essential services and are entitled to the postal ballot facility. Service voters will be sent their postal ballots electronically by the Returning Officer through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) immediately after the finalisation of the list of contesting candidates. Service voters are not required to bear the cost of postal services,” it said.

The Returning Officer/District Election Officer has been directed to brief the political parties/contesting candidates regarding the applicable provisions.