Senior citizens step out to vote despite availability of vote-from-home facility

MUMBAI: Despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) having made available the facility of vote-from-home (VfH) through postal ballot for two different types of voters — persons aged 85 years and above, and persons with disabilities (PwD), there were many elderly who stepped out to vote across Mumbai.

The heat and uncomfortable weather conditions did not deter them either.

At the St Anne’s school voting centre in Pali Hill, 90-year-old Preeti Anand said that she wouldn’t prefer the home voting option. As she came to the centre on Monday now the authorities helped her with a wheelchair till her car. “This is the third time that I am voting here. The experience was good,” she said.

Another senior citizen couple Venugopal Panicker,88 and Rajlakshmi, 77 also stepped out to vote. Their daughter in law Bidisha who was with them said that as long as they are mobile they would prefer coming to the centre to vote.

Adi Master,85, who came with his son Zubin said that he wasn’t aware of the home voting option. “Even if I was aware, I would come to vote at the centre only. I have always voted at the centre and see no reason to not come,” he said adding that in the past he would vote at Fort. He even refused taking a wheelchair at the polling booth.

Shyam Sharma,87 came to the polling g booth with his son Rajiv. He has always voted here he said.


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