Now you will be able to vote sitting at home! No need to go to the election centre, know who will get the benefit of the new rule

Assembly Elections 2026: Often, due to physical disability or old age, many people were not able to be a part of the grand festival of elections. To remove this obstacle, the Election Commission has taken a historic initiative. In the assembly elections to be held on April 9, 2026, the elderly and the disabled will no longer need to stand in long lines at the polling booth.

The Commission has banned ‘home voting’ in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. That is, the facility of voting from home has been started. This is a big relief for millions of families whose elders will now be able to contribute to the strengthening of democracy without crossing their threshold.

Polling booth for elderly and disabled now in their home

Under Section 60 (C) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission has given this optional facility to those voters who are above 85 years of age or who fall in the disabled category. To avail this facility, voters have to apply to their respective returning officer within five days of the issue of the notification. After this their vote is recorded through postal ballot.

Big impact will be visible in election data from Kerala to Assam

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission, till now more than 2.37 lakh voters have been given permission to vote from home. The largest number in this is from Kerala, where more than 1 lakh 45 thousand elderly and 62 thousand disabled voters will cast their votes sitting at home. About 19,774 elderly people and 6,638 disabled people have got this facility in Assam. Thousands of voters in Puducherry are also taking advantage of this new system.

Now the entire polling team will reach your door.

Many people may have a question in their minds that how will the confidentiality of the vote be protected during voting at home? The Commission has made strict security arrangements for this. An entire team of polling officials will visit each voter’s home, along with police personnel for security and a videographer to record the entire process.

To ensure transparency, all contesting candidates are informed about these tours in advance and can also send their representative if they wish. The process will be completed by April 5, and if a voter is not found at home the first time, the team will visit their home again.

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Strong arrangements at polling stations also

Along with this, those elderly or disabled voters who have not been able to choose the option to vote from home, there is no need to be disappointed. The Election Commission has clarified that all necessary basic facilities will be ensured for them at the polling stations. The volunteers deployed there will not only welcome them but also provide them with wheelchairs and other aids to make their voting experience comfortable.