Process for collection of postal ballots to begin in Hailakandi

HAILAKANDI: All arrangements have been put in place by the election machinery here for collection of postal ballots from senior citizens above 80 plus and persons with disabilities from home beginning Sunday. The entire exercise will be completed by Wednesday, stated a press release.

There are no COVID patients either at home or in quarantine facility as per report submitted by the Health department to the election authorities. Additional Deputy Commissioner and Officer in-charge of Postal Ballot, Dhrubajyoti Deb disclosed that a total number of 1,602 applications had been accepted from senior citizens and PwDs for postal ballots and 1,017 numbers rejected.

Total 15 teams for each LAC have been formed consisting of presiding officer, first polling officer, micro observer, security personnel and videographer for facilitating voting through postal ballots from home.

The polling personnel will visit the homes of the absentee voters twice to ensure that they are at home on the day of polling and, if found absent, they will not be able to cast their votes later at the polling stations. The electors and the candidates have been informed ahead of the team's visit. The vote has to be cast and the ballots returned on the spot.

The commission rules says that the returning officer (RO) will have to share a list of all such PwD and 80+ electors, whose applications for availing postal ballot facility have been approved by him, with the contesting candidates of recognized political parties in printed hardcopy.

"Persons whose application seeking postal ballot facility at home have been rejected, will be intimated through different modes of communication so that they can cast their vote at the polling stations," Deb added.

As for essential service voters, facilitation centres will be set up at circle level. The process will begin on Thursday and continue till Saturday.

Meanwhile, postal ballots have been already issued to personnel in notified essential services, including health officials, police, fire services and electricity. Media persons authorized by the Election Commission to cover the polls also can avail the postal ballot facility.

The earlier decision was to issue postal ballots to voters in the 'Absentee Voter' category, which included 80-plus voters, the differently abled, the COVID-19-positive and service voters.

Every voter will be thermally screened at the entry points of polling stations. People whose body temperature exceeds the prescribed limit will be asked to wait. They will be screened after an hour. If the temperature is still high, they will be asked to vote in the final hour. Voters will be required to lower their face masks for identification. PwD category voters will be provided transportation.

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