Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Voters that are above 85 years of age and those who are differently-abled will be allowed to cast their votes via postal ballots from home in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. To avail of this facility, they must apply within five days of the election notification being issued. These voters will need to fill out Form 12D through their Booth Level Officer (BLO) and submit it to the Returning Officer. Later, a polling team will visit their homes to collect their votes.
Bihar Elections 2025: Who all can vote from home?
According to the Election Commission, apart from the elderly and differently-abled, voters engaged in essential services on polling day, can also apply for postal ballot voting through their department’s designated nodal officer. Essential services such as fire services, healthcare, electricity, transport, ambulance services, aviation, and long-distance government transport corporations are covered under this provision. The Commission has also included accredited media personnel covering the elections in this category, allowing them to use the postal ballot facility as absentee voters.
Election Commission to crack down on fake news during Bihar polls
The Election Commission has instructed strict monitoring and immediate action against fake or misleading news during the state elections. Special attention will be given to social media platforms.
Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg, Director General (Media) Ayush Goyal, and other officials on Wednesday held a video conference with Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, state police nodal officer, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, and Additional Secretary Madhav Kumar Singh.
Officials stressed that they need to stay alert against misinformation, rumours, and false news. They also directed that fake news on social media should be promptly identified and countered.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Manavjit Singh Dhillon gave details about the functioning of Bihar’s fake news counter mechanism.