Voting by Postal Ballot
A postal ballot, as can be deciphered from its name, means voting through post or any electronic mode. The purpose of launching this methodology is to create a culture of ‘corporate democracy’, and to facilitate the shareholders to cast their votes without making their presence in the general meeting.
Applicability
The system of voting is applicable for all public that consists of more than 200 members and private limited companies. One Person Company (OPC) or any other entity with membership strength of 200 or less cannot make use of this system.
Transaction of Business through Postal Ballot
Rule 22 of the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 specifies the following items of business to be transacted by means of voting through postal ballot:
- Alteration of Object clause of Memorandum.
- Conversion of private company into a public company and vice versa.
- Change of location of the registered office outside the limits of any city, town or village.
- Change in Objects owing to which a company has gathered funds from the public through a prospectus, and the existence of any unutilized amount out of the money so raised.
- Issue of shares through differential voting rights.
- Variation of rights of shareholders, debenture holders or other security holders.
- Buy-back of a company’s shares.
- Sale of the whole or bulk of an undertaking of the company.
- Providing loans, guarantee or security in excess of the specified limit.
Postal Ballot Facilities for Absentee Voters
The Election Commission of India has made efforts to ensure that the electors those who are unable to come and vote in polling booth or absentee voters are facilitated with the process of a postal ballot paper. This facility ensures wider participation in the electoral process.
The absentee voters under clause (c) of section 60 of the Act are as follows:
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
- Senior citizens of more than 80 years
- People who are employed under the essential services such as railways, state transport and aviation etc.
These provisions will include the process of identification of such voters, the manner of outreach, the processes of the collection as well as voting in the designated centers in each constituency.
Application
In case of an absentee voter, the application would be made in the form 12D along with the particulars as specified therein. The application to be duly verified by the nodal officer for the absentee voter, except the senior citizen or person with a disability, which would reach the returning officer within 5 working days from the date of election notification. In such case, the postal ballot paper will be returned to the centre provided for recording of the vote under the rule 27F, subject to any direction that would be issued by the Election Commission in this behalf.
These two categories of senior citizen voters of more than 80 years of age and PwD electors will be marked in the electoral roll having a choice of voting either as an absentee voter or as a regular voter on the poll day. In the case, any of the electors belonging to these categories intends to vote early, then as per the amended Rule 27C of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, the applicant can make an application in a new Form 12D, that would reach the Returning Officer within 5 days from following the date of notification of election. After the receipt of such application, the voter will be issued with a postal ballot paper, which would be deposited in the specified centre after the recording of the vote.
Postal Ballot Paper
As per the election commission, the voting facility through the postal ballot is accessible only to those doing election duties, army personnel, disabled people and senior citizens above 80 years of age. The ballot is sent through the postal service to the employees and military officers who do not have an electronic facility. If the electors do not use it or do not receive it then it returns to the sender’s address.
A postal ballot, also known as a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot, is a voting method that allows eligible voters to cast their votes in an election by mail rather than in person at a polling station. This option is often provided to accommodate individuals who are unable to vote in person due to various reasons, such as being away from their registered voting location, illness, disability, or other commitments.
Here’s a brief overview of how the postal ballot process typically works:
- Requesting a Ballot:
- Eligible voters need to request a postal ballot from the relevant election authorities. The process for requesting a ballot may vary by jurisdiction.
- Verification and Issuance:
- The election authorities verify the voter’s eligibility and, upon approval, issue the postal ballot to the voter.
- Receiving the Ballot:
- The voter receives the postal ballot by mail at their designated address.
- Marking the Ballot:
- The voter marks their choices on the ballot following the provided instructions. This is often done in private.
- Securing and Returning the Ballot:
- The completed ballot is placed in a secure envelope, which is then placed in another envelope with the voter’s information and any necessary authentication details.
- Returning the Ballot:
- The voter returns the sealed envelopes by mail or, in some cases, may drop them off at designated locations.
- Verification and Counting:
- Upon receiving the returned ballots, election officials verify the voter’s information and ensure the integrity of the ballots before counting them.
- Results:
- The results of the postal ballot are typically included with the overall election results.
Postal ballots are an important tool to ensure that individuals who are unable to vote in person can still participate in the democratic process. However, the procedures and regulations surrounding postal voting can vary between countries and regions, and they may be subject to change based on legal and administrative considerations. It’s essential for voters to be aware of the specific rules and deadlines related to postal voting in their respective jurisdictions.