The State Election Commission (SEC), responsible for managing local body elections, has been inundated with requests for postal ballots from both governmental and civilian groups in the lead-up to the upcoming polls. While postal voting is not entirely absent in local body elections, it is currently restricted solely to officials directly involved in the conduct of the elections.
Unlike the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, which are administered by the Election Commission (EC) of India, the local polls in the state do not offer postal ballots for the general electorate, nor do they provide 'service ballots' or special ballots for vulnerable groups such as bedridden patients.
Despite these clear limitations, various organisations, including police personnel deployed at the Sabarimala temple and Fire and Rescue Services staff, have approached the commission seeking permission to vote by post.
SEC Commissioner A Shajahan stated, "The Panchayat Raj Act and the Municipality Act allow postal ballots only for officials on election duty," when speaking to the media. He noted that introducing such a facility for the general public involves significant logistical difficulties given the highly localised nature of elections to the Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations, especially when compared with Assembly elections. Any expansion of the facility would necessitate amendments to the relevant laws.
The 2020 local body elections did, however, permit postal voting under special circumstances as the polls were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the commission's guidelines at the time, 'special voters' — namely COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine — were divided into two cohorts:
Cohort 1: Electors who tested positive or entered quarantine within 10 days of the election, and up until 3 pm on the day preceding the vote, were included on a certified list and issued special postal ballot papers.
Cohort 2: Individuals who tested positive or entered quarantine after 3 p.m. the day before polling and up until the close of voting were permitted to visit polling booths directly, but only after all other voters had departed.
In contrast, the EC has a different system. For the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, for instance, voters aged 85 years and above and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) will be able to opt for a 'vote-from-home' facility. Following an amendment to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, the minimum age for senior citizens eligible for a postal ballot was raised from 80 to 85. PwD voters with a disability of 40 per cent or more are also eligible for the facility.
The 2025 local body elections in Kerala are scheduled to take place in two phases: December 9 and December 11.
On Sunday, the SEC confirmed that the distribution of postal ballots for officials on election duty will commence on November 26.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary, Binoy Viswam, has urged the rescheduling of the ongoing tiger census. He argues that the current schedule impedes Forest Department officials from exercising their right to vote. The census is due to conclude on December 8. As the first phase of elections is on December 9, Viswam stated it would be challenging for officers on census duty to return from remote forest areas in time to cast their votes the following day. He confirmed having written to both the Head of Forest Force and the SEC regarding this demand.
Also read: Kerala local polls: UDF pledges 5 lakh houses in manifesto
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