Chennai, Mar 8: The sixteenth legislative assembly election for the state of Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry will be held on 6 April 2021. There are 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 33 in Puducherry. The electorate (number of people eligible to vote) in Tamil Nadu is 6.26 crore where as it has crossed 10 lakhs in Puducherry.
Of these, a total of 12.91 lakhs voters are above the age of 80. Taking into consideration the COVID- 19 pandemic situation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is allowing elderly (aged 80 and above), differently abled and people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to cast a postal vote. Those willing to avail this facility, should fill a consent form (Form 12-D). Polling officers will visit their house and collect their vote in the ballot boxes. This facility is optional (need not be availed). Earlier the ECI had allowed the same in Bihar Assembly elections.
Postal vote is usually available only to Service voters who are members of the Armed Forces, member of a State Police Force serving outside that state; or a person who is employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India.