The home voting initiative, being implemented for the first time in Bihar’s assembly elections, will continue till Thursday. Teams of polling officials visited neighborhoods such as Phulwarisharif and Patna Sahib to collect votes from registered individuals who had submitted Form 12D to their respective returning officers within five days of the election notification.
Each team included two polling officers, a micro observer, two constables, and a videographer to ensure transparency. The entire voting process was recorded on camera, adhering to ECI’s guidelines.
Empowering the Most Vulnerable
According to election officials, Patna district has 32,036 voters with disabilities and 34,260 voters aged above 85 years. Many of them expressed happiness and gratitude after casting their votes at home. Among them were Ashgari Bano, Shakila Khatoon, Anwari Khatoon, and Sujit Kumar of Phulwarisharif, who thanked polling teams for bringing the ballot to their doorstep.
“The provision of home voting is a progressive measure aimed at empowering voters who face mobility challenges or health issues,” said a senior polling official overseeing the process. “It ensures that no citizen is deprived of their democratic right due to age or disability.”
Transparency and Fair Practice
Officials confirmed that the process followed strict security and monitoring protocols. Each ballot paper was sealed in the presence of observers and security personnel. The Election Commission emphasized that videography of every home voting instance would serve as an additional safeguard against malpractice.
The initiative aligns with the ECI’s ongoing efforts to make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible. Similar home voting services have been successfully implemented in general and state elections in other parts of India, such as Kerala and Himachal Pradesh.
Voter Participation on the Rise
Patna’s voters welcomed the step, calling it a dignified recognition of senior citizens and differently-abled individuals. “It feels good that our votes matter and we don’t have to struggle to reach polling booths,” said 89-year-old Shakila Khatoon. “This is true democracy reaching our doorstep.”
Polling officials noted a strong turnout among registered home voters, which they say could contribute to an overall rise in participation during the Bihar elections. The first phase of polling will cover several key districts on November 6, followed by subsequent phases in mid-November.
Inclusive Democracy in Action
The initiative reflects India’s broader move toward accessible elections under the Accessible India Campaign. It also complements ongoing reforms aimed at digital voter verification, postal ballots for service voters, and assistive technologies at polling booths.
As Bihar gears up for one of its most anticipated elections in recent years, the introduction of home voting underscores a shift toward human-centered electoral reforms. Officials hope this model will be replicated across other states in future elections.