UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Over 2.3 lakh Electors to avail the Home Voting
Q1. Under the procedure notified by the Election Commission of India, within how many days from the date of notification of an election must an eligible absentee voter's application in Form 12-D reach the Returning Officer to avail the home-voting facility?
- A. 3 days
- B. 5 days
- C. 10 days
- D. 15 days
Q2. Which one of the following bodies is solely responsible for operationalising the home-voting (postal ballot at residence) facility under Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951?
- A. Ministry of Home Affairs
- B. Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice
- C. Election Commission of India
- D. NITI Aayog
Q3. The home-voting facility for electors above 85 years and PwDs was extended on a pan-India basis for the first time during which one of the following elections?
- A. General (Lok Sabha) Elections, 2019
- B. Bihar Legislative Assembly Election, 2020
- C. General (Lok Sabha) Elections, 2024
- D. Five-State Assembly Elections, 2021
Q4. In the context of Indian election law, the term 'absentee voter' as defined under clause (aa) of Rule 27A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, is best described as which one of the following?
- A. Any voter who has migrated and registered as an overseas/NRI elector
- B. A notified class of electors — such as those in essential services, senior citizens and PwDs — permitted to vote by postal ballot
- C. A voter whose name has been deleted from the rolls for prolonged absence from the constituency
- D. A proxy voter who authorises another person to cast the vote on his behalf
Q5. As announced by the ECI for the 2026 General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies, approximately how many electors across Kerala, Assam and Puducherry were approved by Returning Officers for the home-voting facility?
- A. Over 1.4 lakh
- B. Over 2.37 lakh
- C. Over 14.14 lakh
- D. Over 28 lakh
Q6. Under which provision of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, did the ECI provide the optional home-voting facility in the 2026 elections?
- A. Section 60(a)
- B. Section 60(b)
- C. Section 60(c)
- D. Section 62
Q7. In the home-voting procedure, 'Form 12-D' refers to which one of the following?
- A. The application an eligible absentee voter submits to the Returning Officer to opt for postal/home voting
- B. The postal ballot paper on which the elector marks the vote
- C. The declaration of secrecy signed before the polling team
- D. The intimation sent by the Returning Officer to candidates about the home-voting schedule
Q8. For how many States/Union Territories did the ECI conduct the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies in 2026, during which the home-voting facility was deployed?
- A. Four
- B. Five
- C. Six
- D. Seven