Vote from home option in Karnataka to begin on April 29: 99,979 register

The vote from home option has been preferred by many in Karnataka following the announcement by the Election Commission of India.

80,250 people aged above 80 and 19,729 with physical disabilities have chosen the vote from home, which is a first-of-its-kind initiative launched by the Election Commission in Karnataka. These persons will be able to exercise their vote at home between April 29 and May 6.

The weeklong exercise will begin on April 29, Manoj Kumar Meena, Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka said.

"Separate polling staff have been picked for this process. Each team will have five staffers, including two polling officials, one cop and one videographer. We will share the boothwise list of those who have opted to vote from home well in advance with political parties," Meena said.

He also said that the highest number of people who opted for the vote from home option are from the Sira constituency in Tumakuru. The commission will intimate the voters about the polling dates via SMS, he also said.

"On entering voters' houses, staff will check their ID, obtain a declaration and hand over a ballot paper. They will have to cast vote inside a secret compartment and drop it in an envelope. If the voter is not available due to any emergency, the team will reschedule the visit. If the voter is not available during the second visit, he/she will lose the chance to vote," he added.

He also said that the postal ballot facility will be provided to 47,488 voters and another 13,711 in the essential services category.

Meena added, "the postal ballot sent to them electronically can be downloaded using a link via the ETPBS system. Ballots shall be sent back in an envelope without stamp duty. All ballots received by 8am of May 13 will be considered for counting."