Thiruvananthapuram: The postal voting system, which was given to voters above 80 years old, is now provided only to people above the age of 85, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Sanjay Kaul informed.

The central law ministry gave the order after considering the opinion of the Election Commission of India. 

The amendment came days before the schedule of the Lok Sabha and four state Assembly polls is likely to be announced.

According to the latest voters' list issued by the Election Commission (EC), while 1.85 crore voters have been identified as above 80 years of age, the number of "centenarian" (those who are aged 100 years and above) voters stands at 2.38 lakh.

According to a gazette notification issued by the law ministry on Friday, amendments have been made in the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to extend the facility of postal ballots to those aged above 85 years.

Through an earlier amendment, the EC had allowed those above 80 years of age to exercise their franchise through postal ballots. This system was introduced to help those who cannot travel to the designated polling place.

The citizens who require this provision have to give an application to the election officer in their respective constituency by filling out the appropriate form( form 12 D) within five days after the election is notified.

The application forms can be collected from booth-level officers. The election officers will review the application forms and prepare the lists of eligible voters. Postal ballots will be given by polling officers. The voters have to mark their votes and return them to polling officers.

With PTI inputs