Andheri by-election: 392 senior citizens cast vote from home

Representational image. Pic/iStock

Citizens above the age of 80, who wanted to vote in the Andheri East Assembly by-poll from the comfort of their home, were able to do so. Out of 430 senior voters, 392 exercised their franchise from home - which, according to officials, was unprecedented - ahead of the by-poll, which took place on Thursday.

As per the directives of the Election Commission of India, the Mumbai Suburban District's administrators have implemented the ‘voting at home' initiative for octogenarians for the first time.

A special list of voters aged 80 years and above in the Andheri East constituency was prepared at the beginning of October. This list contains the information of approximately 7,000 voters, and every person on it was contacted directly and informed about the facility of voting from home.

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A team of seven officials visited their homes between October 30 and November 1 and temporary polling stations were set up at these residences.

The votes have been sealed and deposited as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India.

"Out of the 430 senior voters of the Andheri East constituency who had registered under the facility, 392 exercised their right to vote from home. This means that as many as 91.16 per cent of voters in the said category have enthusiastically participated in the voting process," said Election Officer Prashant Patil.