Centre announces one-way e-postal ballots for armed forces

New Delhi, October 24

The Centre on Monday announced the launch of one-way e-postal ballots on pilot basis to enable service voters to exercise their franchise in a move towards improving postal ballot system for this category of voters.

Under this system, a blank postal ballot paper would be transmitted to service voter electronically. The voter can download, print the blank ballot and return it by post to the Returning Officer concerned after casting his or her vote.

The Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification amending Rule 23 of the Conduct of Elections Rules to enable service voters, including armed forces personnel, to cast their votes in elections through the new system, an official announcement said.

This one way reaching of the postal ballot in electronic form would cut short the delay experienced in the present system in two-way transmission of ballot paper through regular post.

Armed forces personnel serving in remote and border areas would be benefited, since the current system of two-way transmission of ballot paper through postal services has not been able to meet the expectations of their expectations.