The Kerala High Court has asked the Election Commission of India to clarify the possibility of providing additional facilities for voters who missed casting their postal ballots in the recent polls. Concerns about potential disenfranchisement prompted the court to seek the ECI’s stance on extending or simplifying postal voting mechanisms for affected individuals.
Following a petition by a state government employee who alleged being denied the right to vote despite following postal voting procedures, the court has scheduled further hearings on the matter. The court’s intervention, just after the April 9 polling and ahead of the May 4 counting, is crucial as postal ballots can significantly impact closely-fought constituencies.
The issue arose from challenges faced by government personnel on election duty in receiving and returning postal ballots within the stipulated timeline. The Kerala NGO Union had raised concerns about delays in distributing ballot papers to eligible voters, particularly those engaged in election-related tasks. Despite entitlements under the Conduct of Election Rules, logistical constraints and time pressures reportedly hindered many from exercising their voting rights through postal ballots.
