EC Clarifies on Postal Ballots Issue Again

The rule that a postal ballot is valid with a signature even if it lacks a seal has become controversial. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is strongly opposing this regulation. In this context, the Central Election Commission (EC) has once again provided clarity on the issue of postal ballots.

The EC reiterated that the signature of the attesting officer (a gazetted officer) on Form 13A is sufficient. It clarified that the form is valid even without a seal or designation, as long as there is a signature. The explanation given is that the attesting officer signs Form 13A only after the Returning Officer's (RO) verification, so the absence of a seal is acceptable.

The EC has issued fresh instructions to the Returning Officers to ensure that postal ballots are validated as per their specified guidelines. To this effect, the Central Election Commission has sent a letter to Andhra Pradesh CEO Mukesh Kumar Meena.