Journalists and essential service employees to vote via postal ballots in Rajasthan assembly polls

Journalists and employees from various departments in Rajasthan will now have the option to vote through postal ballots in the upcoming November 25 Assembly elections, according to an official announcement on Wednesday. The Election Commission has released a notification stating that this will be the first time journalists in the state will be able to avail of the postal ballot facility.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta told PTI that the order includes doctors, paramedical staff, ambulance workers, electricians, linemen, pump operators, turners, milk committee employees, transport corporation employees, firefighters, and authorised mediapersons. These individuals will be eligible to vote through postal ballots starting this year.

Gupta highlighted that journalists have been included as service voters for the first time. Previously, only employees and officers on election duty, as well as army or paramilitary personnel, had the option of service voting. Gupta further explained that all these essential service individuals will now have the opportunity to vote through postal ballots.


The respective departments will need to provide information about employees who will be on duty on the day of voting and may otherwise be unable to vote. Based on this list, the Returning Officer will issue Form 12-D to these employees, enabling them to vote through postal ballots at designated facilitation centres. The Rajasthan Assembly, consisting of 200 members, will hold elections on November 23.