Even as the State Election Commission exhorts citizens to turn out in large numbers for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the civic administration’s apathy has effectively disenfranchised one of the city’s most dedicated voter groups—senior citizens above the age of 85.
In a stark departure from the arrangements made during the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the administration has failed to extend home voting facilities to elderly voters for the civic polls. The omission raises serious questions about inclusivity, preparedness, and respect for democratic rights, leaving thousands of aged and infirm citizens at risk of being silently excluded from the electoral process.
According to a media report, during the national and state elections, election machinery had proactively reached the doorsteps of voters aged 85 and above, enabling them to cast their ballots from home. The initiative was widely publicised and hailed as a progressive step towards participatory democracy. That sensitivity, however, appears to have vanished in the municipal elections. There has been no notification, no clarity, and no alternative mechanism announced.
Across Nagpur, senior citizens—many of them regular and politically aware voters—have been seeking information about home voting, only to be met with confusion and official silence. Ground-level election officials are reportedly clueless and unable to provide clear answers.
With an estimated eight to ten voters above 85 years of age per polling booth, the cumulative impact of this lapse could be significant, especially since many of these voters are physically unable to step out. Municipal Deputy Commissioner Nirbhay Jain confirmed the administrative vacuum, stating that no instructions for home voting in civic polls have been received from the State Election Commission, effectively absolving the system of responsibility.
The omission is all the more troubling given that several wards are expected to witness razor-thin contests, with victory margins possibly as low as 10 to 20 votes. In such circumstances, denying elderly citizens the means to vote is not merely an oversight—it has the potential to influence electoral outcomes.
For those affected, the lapse is deeply personal. A senior citizen from Karnalbagh, confined to his home due to health issues, described the denial as both painful and humiliating. “I want to vote. I have always voted. Being excluded now, despite being a conscious citizen, is deeply disappointing,” he said.
The BJP has squarely blamed the administration for the failure. BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari said the party had formally urged election authorities to make provisions for senior citizens, but the appeal was ignored. “Voting is a fundamental right.
Ensuring access, especially for the elderly, is not optional. If senior citizens are left out, it is a clear administrative failure,” he said.
As polling day approaches, the absence of home voting for senior citizens stands in stark contrast to official appeals for higher turnout—exposing a system that speaks of democracy, but fails to deliver it to those who need institutional support the most.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com