The Election Commission of India has notified the facility of voting through Postal Ballot for Absentee Voters in the following category of persons employed in essential services in Tamil Nadu.
1. Mercantile Marine
2. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
3. Chennai Metro Rail Limited
4. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
5. Food Corporation of India, Zonal Office (South)
6. Media persons
A press release released by the Chief Electoral Officer stated that the officials of these categories who are enrolled in the electoral roll in the State and who would be certified to be on duty on the day of poll, and on account of their such official duties, will not be able to cast their vote at their respective polling stations, will be eligible for voting through postal ballot. They can apply for a Postal Ballot through the Nodal Officers of their Organisation appointed for this purpose in Form 12 D, which has already been shared with the concerned organisations. The filled up applications have to reach the Returning Officer of the constituency concerned, on or before 25.3.2024.
The Returning Officers will set up Postal Voting Centre (PVC) in their respective constituencies for issuing of postal ballot paper to the Absentee Voters for Essential Services and inform the full address, dates on which the facility will be open and the hours fixed for postal voting through SMS, post or the Nodal Officer of their organisation concerned and advertisements in local newspapers and also through the website of the District Election Officer.
The officials eligible for voting through postal ballot can visit the concerned Postal Voting Centre, collect the postal ballot and cast their vote on any of the three days and during the hours fixed by the Returning Officers for the purpose. All the concerned officials are requested to avail the facility.
