Karnataka elections: This is how the Vote-From-Home option will work

Karnataka is all set to vote to elect its next government in the elections that are due to be held in April-May.

Ahead of the elections, the Election Commission of India has introduced the Vote-From-Home Option, which will be beneficial to those above the age of 80 years and also those who are suffering from any disabilities.

This is for the first time that the Election Commission is providing this facility to those above the age of 80 years. Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar told reporters that their teams would go there with form 12D which would help people exercise their franchise. Though we encourage people above the age of 80 to go to the polling booth, those who cannot, can avail this facility Kumar also said.

He explained that secrecy would be maintained through this entire process.

"All the political parties will be informed whenever there is movement for voting fro home. For people with disabilities, a mobile application 'Saksham' has been introduced through which they can login and choose the facility to vote," he also said.

Kumar also said another mobile application called, 'Suvidha' has been developed. This is an online portal for candidates to file their nomination and affidavits, he added. Candidates can use this portal to seek permission for meetings and rallies. The Election Commission has also launched a campaign called Know our Candidate for the benefit of the voters, he explained.

Kumar said, 'political parties have to inform the voters on their portals and social media platforms as to why they chose a candidate with criminal background and why they were given a ticket to contest the elections.'

On the Karnataka Assembly elections, Kumar said that in all there are 224 seats, of which 36 are reserved for SCs. 15 are reserved for STs, he also added.

There are 5.21 crore voters of which 2.59 crore are women voters, he said. There are 16,976 centenarians, 4,699 third genders and 9.17 lakh first time voters, he added.

There are 12.15 lakh voters who are above the age of 80 and 5.55 lakh people with disabilities who are eligible to vote, Kumar said. The state has 58,272 polling stations, including 24,063 in the urban areas. The average voters per polling station is 883, the top top election official said.

He further added that there will be webcasting in 29,141 polling stations, while adding that there are 1,200 critical polling booths. As most of the polling stations are in schools, there will be permanent water and electricity, he said.

These facilities will be permanent in nature. This is a gift from the Election Commission to the schools and to the school children, Kumar said.

When asked when the elections will be held, he said that it would be conducted before May 24, when the tenure of the current assembly comes to an end.