Independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi exercise his franchise in Himachal Poll

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106 years old Shyam Saran Negi of Himachal Pradesh exercised his right to franchise and voted for the 34th time in his life on 2 November 2022.  

Shyam Saran Negi who is the first voter of the Independent India voted in the 14th Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections through postal ballot at his home in Kalpa, Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Born in July 1917, Shyam Saran Negi voted for the first time in 1951 in general elections of India and has voted for sixteen times in Lok Sabha Elections.

He is also a state election icon since 2014.

A teacher by profession, the centenarian has voted in every election since 1951 and has never missed an opportunity to vote.

The election to constitute the 14th Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha will be held on 12 November 2022. 

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has 68 seats.

Postal Ballot 

As the name suggests special ballot papers are issued to designated persons by the Election commission of India and the voters have to send the ballot paper back to the returning officer before the counting of the vote’s starts in the constituency.

.According to the Election Commission of India following Persons are entitled to vote by post:

• Special voter’s .It includes Persons with Disability, senior citizens above the age of 80 years and covid-19 positive patient,
• Service voters (Armed Forces personnel, paramilitary personnel)
• Voters on election duty and;
• Voters who are in jail and held under the preventive detention provision of law.

The colour of the postal ballot is Pink.