92% of elderly and PwD electors in J-K’s Udhampur turnout on first day of home voting

The first day of ‘home voting’ in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency saw an impressive 92 per cent turnout among elderly citizens and persons with disabilities. The initiative allowed eligible voters above 85 years and those meeting the 40 per cent disability criteria to cast their votes through postal ballots from their homes in Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, which are part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency scheduled for polling on April 19.

A total of 621 eligible electors participated in the home voting process, with 92 per cent casting their votes on the first day. This new initiative, introduced for the first time in a Lok Sabha election by the Election Commission, aims to make voting more accessible for elderly citizens and persons with disabilities.

In Udhampur district alone, 124 postal ballot votes were received, and 116 were polled. Additionally, 5 votes were cast in the district jail at Udhampur. The process involves a dedicated team of polling officials visiting the voter’s residence with security personnel to collect their votes, ensuring transparency by recording the entire exercise on video.

District Election Officer, Saloni Rai, highlighted the EC’s commitment to ensuring that no voter is left behind by providing this optional home voting facility. This initiative is a significant step towards making the electoral process more inclusive and accessible to all eligible citizens, upholding the democratic principle of every vote counting.