The voters who are unable to make it on polling day are called ‘Absentee Voter’. The novel system is on top of the postal vote, which has been in force for long. A new system has already been introduced in Puthuppally constituency. It is reported that 2,549 voters have applied for ‘vote @ home’ in Puthuppally. Three hundred fifty of them are differently abled. Two thousand one hundred ninety-nine are above 80.
Vote @ home is sanctioned to voters who have applied for a postal vote by filing the duly filled-up 12D application form. The applicants are informed in advance, and facilities are arranged at their homes for polling their votes.
A special ‘polling team’ visits the homes of the applicants. Those who are sanctioned, but do not avail this facility, will not get another chance to vote. Fifteen teams have been deployed for this novel voting in Puthuppally constituency. A Micro Observer, Presiding Officer, Polling Officer, Videographer and a Police Officer constitute a team. Booth Level Officers (BLO) are assigned to identify the houses of the applicants to facilitate the visit of the team for executing the ‘Absentee Vote’.
The “Absentee Vote” is a significant development in the realm of adult franchise. Lot of people have been missing their right to vote due to their undesirable physical conditions. There are various reasons for this situation. Permanent disabilities, immobility due to diseases, accidents, etc. are the major reasons for absenteeism.
It creates serious mental agonies in the thoughts of the people who are very much aware of democratic values and significance of voting. The new system is a bliss for them. They will be totally satisfied with it as they (the voters) will be really happy as they are not losing their power to decide who should rule them. The ‘Absentee Vote’ enables them to choose their representatives and their rulers hence they do not lose the opportunity in participating in the basic practice of democratic process.
It is reported that the novel system going to be implemented in all states during the elections in the days and years to come.
The by-election in Puthuppally assembly constituency in Kottayam district has been caused by the death of Oommen Chandy, former chief minister and former LoP. He had been representing the constituency since the last 53 years since 1970. Political observers believe that it is an all-time record in any democracy. He lost power in 2016 assembly husting, thanks to the powerful campaign against him in connection with ‘Solar Scandal”. And, there were personal level scandals against him which had crossed all sorts of limits.
The most charismatic leader in Kerala history had to face even cheap level of allegations which he really did not deserve. Since then he did not occupy the centre stage of Kerala politics; eventually he turned sick and signed off on July 18, 2023. Now, Chandy Oommen, the son of the deceased leader and leader of the Congress party is contesting to occupy his father’s seat in the legislature assembly. G. Lijin Lal is the BJP candidate. CPM candidate is Jaick C. Thomas, a DYFI leader.
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