As multiple states across the country gear up for the upcoming state assembly elections, state election commissions and governments are exploring new ways to increase voter turnouts. In a progressive initiative, Tripura is set to introduce a 'vote-from-home' system enabling senior citizens and people with disability to exercise their Right to Vote while sitting at home.
The Tripura Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that senior citizens above the age of 80 will only be able to avail of the vote-from-home option. The CEO also said that an adequate number of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) have strengthened the state capital ahead of the Assembly Elections adding that flag march and night patrolling are also being conducted in Agartala.
"We want fair, transparent, and peaceful polls. Senior citizens above 80 years and persons with disabilities will have the option to vote from home", he said as per several media reports.
The voting for Assembly Elections 2023 will be held on February 16 in Tripura, while the same will take place on February 27 in Nagaland and Manipur, according to the Election Commission of India. Results are set to be declared on Mar 2, 2023.
"We have set up 14 nakas to ensure that there is no movement of illegal cash, weapons, narcotics, and other material. Announcement for polls is likely to happen in 1-2 days," AK Das, sub-divisional police officer, Sadar said.
"There are more than 62.8 lakh electors combined in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura including - 31.47 lakh female electors, 97,000 80+ voters, and 31,700 PwD voters. Over 1.76 lakh first-time voters participated in the elections in 3 states", said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The "vote-from-home" has long been under discussion and was even proposed in the states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, among others ahead of state assembly elections here. However, the idea posed a considerable logistical challenge to the election commission at the time. In order to assimilate sections that require such initiatives the most, the Tripura state CEO stated that the option could be accessed only by senior citizens above 80 years of age and persons with disabilities.
