Postal Ballot Woes: 3 Lakh Election Duty Workers Struggle to Cast Votes

Hyderabad: Over 3 lakh individuals on election duty find themselves facing challenges in voting through postal ballots. Nageshwar Rao Boina, working president of GO 317-affected Teachers' Association, alleged that despite the deadline for postal ballots being November 27, only about five per cent of voters on election duty were able to cast their vote.

He, along with association president Vijaya Kumar, met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj and apprised him of the issue. "The CEO assured us that special attention will be paid to get all voters on election duty to exercise their franchise," Rao told Deccan Chronicle.

Rao reportedly said he will would consider allowing them to cast their vote until November 29.

An election duty worker from LB Nagar revealed that there has been a notable delay in both the distribution and return of postal ballots. "Several of us are yet to cast our vote. We fear that could get difficult or be impossible, with the nearing deadline," she told Deccan Chronicle.

The Teachers' Association, in collaboration with the Polytechnic Department, have been working to streamline the process and facilitate the democratic participation of all teachers involved in election duties.

Vijaya Kumar said that every worker who applied for a postal ballot is well-informed about the process and responsibilities associated with their civic duty and care must be taken to help them access their right to vote.