DOI: 10.11648/j.jpsir.20260903.16 ISSN: 2640-2785

Postal Ballot Voting Patterns in India: A Comparative Analysis of State Assembly Elections 2026

Suryakanta Rout, Rajshree Dutta, Priyambada Palai
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Postal ballots have emerged as a crucial mechanism of electoral participation in India, particularly for government employees, armed forces personnel, election-duty staff, persons with disabilities, essential service workers, electors above the age of 85 years, and other categories of voters who are unable to participate through conventional polling methods. Understanding postal ballot behaviours is weighty because it provides insights into the political preferences of influential administrative groups and contributes to broader studies of electoral dynamics. However, existing electoral research has largely focused on general voter behaviour and party performance through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) based results in general, while limited attention has been given to the voting patterns of postal ballot voters in particular. This study aims to analyse the voting patterns of postal ballot voters in the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal by comparing postal vote shares with overall EVM-based electoral outcomes. The study adopts a comparative quantitative approach using Election Commission of India data on postal ballots, EVM votes, and alliance-wise electoral performances with their previous election trends. The key findings reveal significant variations between postal and general voting trends. In Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, West Bengal changes in postal vote shares (2026) reflected shifts in a way from incumbent alliances with LDF 38.9% and DMK+ 38% and TMC+ 33.7%, against to their previous election (2021) postal ballot vote share to 48.7%, 62.2%, and 46.9% respectively witnessed significant decline, whereas Assam and Puducherry demonstrated different patterns, where postal ballot trends did not always correspond directly with overall electoral outcomes. The study highlights the distinct role of postal ballots and its largest share of service voters as an informed electoral segment and offers a unique perspective on bureaucratic electoral preferences and enhances understanding of occupational groups in contemporary Indian electoral politics.

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