Meaning:
- Postal voting is a type of voting in elections whereby Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot Papers (ETPB) are distributed to electors and returned by post, in contrast to electors voting in person at a polling station via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
- However, postal voting refers only to the means by which the ballots are submitted, not to the method by which the votes are counted.
Who all can vote through postal ballots?
- According to the Election Commission (EC) of India, the facility is available to a service voter — that is a voter having a service qualification.
- According to the provisions of sub-section (8) of Section 20 of Representation of People Act, 1950, service qualification means –
- Being a member of the armed forces of the Union; or
- Being a member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), have been made applicable whether with or without modification ;
- Being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside that state; or
- Being a person who is employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.
Procedure to get oneself enrolled as a service voter:
- A person having service qualification can get enrolled as ‘service voter’ at his native place even though he actually may be residing at a different place (of posting).
- Following are the application forms in which various categories of service voters are to make application for enrolment as a service voter –
- Members of Armed Forces – Form 2
- Members of Armed Police Force of a State, serving outside that State – Form 2A
- Persons employed under Government of India on post outside India – Form 3
