Issue of Postal Ballot to Electors above the age of 85 Years and Person With Benchmark Disability -- Issue of Postal Ballot to Covid-19 Suspect or Affected Persons -- Issue of Postal Ballot to Absentee Voters in the Category of Persons Employed in Essential Services.

No.200] CHENNAI, TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026 Panguni 3, Visuvaavasu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2057

Part V—Section 4

Notifications by the Election Commission of India

NOTIFICATIONS BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

ISSUE OF POSTAL BALLOT TO ELECTORS ABOVE THE AGE OF 85 YEARS AND PERSON WITH BENCHMARK DISABILITY

No. SRO G-8/2026.

No. 52/2026/SDR/Vol-IV.--The following Notifications of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110 001, dated 15th March, 2026 is published:

In pursuance of the provisions of clause (c) of section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission hereby specifies that the elector above the age of 85 years and person with benchmark disability as already marked/flagged in the data base of the electoral rolls of the State and, who requests for voting by postal ballot paper and subject to the verification of his request by Returning Officer concerned, would be a class of persons to give his vote by postal ballot in the current general election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies in 6 States (as per Annexure-I) Schedule to be notified on 16.03.2026, 30.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 under Section 30 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as per the provision in part-IIIA of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.

(By Order)

S.B. Joshi,

Principal Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 17th March, 2026.

ARCHANA PATNAIK,

Chief Electoral Officer and

Principal Secretary to Government,

Public (Elections) Department.

V-4 Ex. (200)

[ 1 ]2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

ISSUE OF POSTAL BALLOT TO COVID-19 SUSPECT OR AFFECTED PERSONS

No. SRO G - 9/2026.

No. 52/2026/SDR/Vol-IV.--The following Notifications of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110 001, dated 15th March, 2026 is published:

In pursuance of the provisions of clause (c) of section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission hereby specifies that the Covid-19 suspect or affected person, Certified by competent authority, who applies for voting by postal ballot paper and subject to verification of their request by the Returning Officer concerned, would be a class of persons to give their vote by postal ballot in the current general election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and bye-elections to 8 Assembly Constituencies in 6 States (as per Annexure-I) schedule to be notified on 16.03.2026, 30.03.2026 and 02.04.2026 under Section 30 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as per the provisions in part-IIIA of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, as amended vide Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India, Notification SO No.1964(E), dated 19th June, 2020 read with the directions and guidelines issued by the Election Commission on the subject.

(By Order)

S.B. Joshi,

Principal Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 17th March, 2026.

ARCHANA PATNAIK,

Chief Electoral Officer and

Principal Secretary to Government,

Public (Elections) Department.

Annexure - I

(By Order)

Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 17th March, 2026.

ARCHANA PATNAIK,

Chief Electoral Officer and

Principal Secretary to Government,

Public (Elections) Department.

ISSUE OF POSTAL BALLOT TO ABSENTEE VOTERS IN THE CATEGORY OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

No. SRO G - 10/2026.

No. 52/2026/SDR/Vol-I.--The following Notifications of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110 001, dated 15th March, 2026 is published:

In pursuance of the provisions of clause (c) of section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and on due consideration of the matter in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission hereby notifies the persons employed in the essential services as mentioned in Annexure-I (copy enclosed) as a class of persons to give vote by postal ballot on account of being on duty on the day of poll in the current General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, 2026 as per the relevant provisions of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and the Commission's directions and guidelines. The programme of the said election is scheduled to be notified on 30th March, 2026.

(By Order)

S.B. Joshi,

Principal Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 17th March, 2026.

ARCHANA PATNAIK,

Chief Electoral Officer and

Principal Secretary to Government,

Public (Elections) Department.

Annexure

(By Order)

S.B. Joshi,

Principal Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 17th March, 2026.

ARCHANA PATNAIK,

Chief Electoral Officer and

Principal Secretary to Government,

Public (Elections) Department.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU