Postal and home voting in Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls 2026: Check dates, eligibility and full schedule

Chennai: Postal voting for senior citizens and differently-abled voters in Chennai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 will be conducted on April 15 and 16, with the second day reserved for those unable to cast their vote on the first day, officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation said.

The initiative is part of the Election Commission of India's efforts to ensure inclusive voter participation in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Chennai home voting: Over 21,000 elderly and differently-abled voters identified

Across 16 constituencies in Chennai, authorities have identified 23,415 senior citizens aged above 85 and 12,501 differently-abled voters.

Of these, around 8,947 voters have opted for the postal ballot facility, allowing them to cast their vote from home by submitting Form 12D.

Postal ballot process: 96 polling teams to visit voters’ homes

Officials said 96 polling teams will be deployed across the city to facilitate doorstep voting. Each team will include:

• Two polling officers
• A police officer
• A videographer
• A micro-observer

The teams will visit voters’ residences as per a pre-informed schedule to ensure a smooth, transparent and secure voting process.

Authorities stressed that all protocols will be followed to guarantee free, fair and secret voting, with strict monitoring in place.

Election duty staff voting on April 16–17

Polling personnel engaged in election duties will cast their postal ballots on April 16 and 17 at designated centres across Chennai. Final locations are expected to be announced shortly.

Also read| Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026: Final candidate list stands at 4,023 after scrutiny

Election preparations and training in Chennai

Training for polling teams was conducted on April 8 at Ripon Buildings under the supervision of Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran.

Officials were instructed to ensure voters can exercise their franchise independently without external influence, while maintaining the strict confidentiality of ballots.

After voting, ballot papers will be sealed and placed in secure boxes, documented daily, and stored under the custody of returning officers. Details will also be electronically submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer to ensure transparency and accountability.

The postal voting initiative is aimed at improving voter accessibility and participation among elderly and differently-abled citizens in Chennai during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

IANS