Covid-19 patients, quarantined voters can vote through postal ballots in local body polls

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 12/1/2020 12:23:54 PM


Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 30 Kerala State Election Commission has announced that it will provide a postal ballot facility for Covid-19 patients and other eligible voters placed under quarantine during the upcoming local body elections. Generally, the facility is provided only for government staff stationed on election duty. Voters afflicted with the novel coronavirus or in quarantine will be designated the status of 'Special Voters' in the upcoming municipal elections in Kerala. Special polling teams consisting of two officials and a police officer each will be deployed for this task, Kerala State Election Commissioner V Bhaskaran said. He added, "List of special voters will be prepared with the assistance of health department and returning officer, starting from 10 days prior to the polling. This will be updated each day at 3 pm." The special polling team will visit each special voter individually and hand over the postal ballot kit. The kit will include an application, self-declaration and postal ballot sheet. The voter can sign the application and self-declaration which will be attested by the special polling officer on the spot. The special voter will then cast a vote with a tick mark, at a place of his convenience and ensuring privacy. The ballot may be handed over to the special polling officer in a cover which will be part of the kit. If the voter wishes, the ballot can also be sent by registered post to the returning officer concerned. This facility will be available for special voters who are identified before 3 pm, on the day prior to voting. Voters who test positive or are placed in quarantine after 3 pm can cast their vote at the polling booth. For this purpose, voters must reach the polling booth before 6 pm wearing PPE kits. Once all the general voters have cast their votes, the special voters will be allowed to enter the polling booth. At this time, election officials and polling agents will also be made to wear PPE kits. As of November 29, the Kerala State Election Commission has identified 24,621 special voters, including Covid-19 patients and those in quarantine in the five districts where polling is due on November 8. The commission anticipates a total expenditure of Rs 200 crore for the local body elections.

 

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