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HOW TO REGISTER TO ‘VOTE FROM HOME’ BY FILLING FORM 12D?

April 18, 2024

If you are a Senior Citizen aged 85 and above OR a PWD (Person with Disability) with impairments of 40% or higher and an eligible voter with your name reflecting in the electoral roll, then you can register to ‘Vote from Home’ for the General Elections.

To know how to check if your name is on the Electoral Rolls Click here.

Voters falling under these two categories are required to submit Form 12D to the Election Commission.

Please Note: On the Election Day, those who choose to cast their ballots at home will not be permitted to cast their ballots at the polls.

  • Others Eligible to Vote from Home:
  1. Persons employed in essential services.
  2. COVID-19 suspect or affected persons.
  3. Media persons covering polling activities. They must carry authorisation letters from the Election Commission.
  4. Service workers such as those who work in metros, railways and health care.
  5. Personnel of the armed forces posted away from home.
  6. Central Armed Police personnel posted away from home, and those on poll duty.
  7. All persons appointed on election duty who are not able to cast their vote at the polling station where they are enrolled as a voter are entitled to the facility of either an EDC or a postal ballot.

The category of essential services is notified by the Election Commission under Section 60(C) of the R.P. Act, 1951 in consultation with the Government.

  • Where to submit the Application Form-12D?

The application must be submitted to the Returning Officer (RO) of their respective constituency, including all necessary details. These applications for the postal ballot option must be received by the RO between the date of the election announcement and five days after the notification of the specific election.

Please Note: The address and contact details of the ROs and AROs are available on the respective state election commission portals. eg. ceoelection.maharashtra.gov.in/ceo/

The date of notification of the election is different for each phase:

  • Phase 1 was notified on March 20th
  • Phase 2 was notified on March 28th
  • Phase 3 was notified on April 12th
  • Phase 4 will be notified on April 18th
  • Phase 5 will be notified on April 26th
  • Phase 6 will be notified on April 29th
  • Phase 7 will be notified on May 7th

View the detailed General Elections2024 Schedule Here.

Documents to be attached :

  • For voters belonging to the PWD category, application (Form 12D) should be accompanied by a copy of benchmark disability certificate
  • Please Note: This is Not required if your name registered in the ARO network as having a disability. First time voters with disability will have to get a certificate from a civil surgeon certifying their disability and submit it to the concerned ARO to be included in the network.
  • For Eligible Senior Citizens, you will be required to submit a valid Government Issued ID Card for Proof of Age

Please Note: Booth Level Officers (BLO) and/or AROs will also visit the houses of absentee voters, whose names are listed in the electoral roll, falling under specific categories such as senior citizens aged above 85, Persons with Disabilities, and individuals suspected or affected by COVID-19. During these visits, the officers will collect your application directly.

The process of casting postal ballots will be completed a day before the rest of the state casts their vote.

In case you need further clarifications or have a question, please leave a comment below and we will do our best to resolve your issue.

To download Form 12 D Click here

All our articles are periodically updated.