Covid fallout : ECI increases voting time, polling booths in U’khand elections
Friday, 24 December 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
In an attempt to ensure application of Covid-19 prevention guidelines the Election Commission of India (ECI) has substantially increased the number of polling booths in Uttarakhand for the upcoming assembly elections. The ECI has also increased the time of voting by one hour so that the crowding at the booths is prevented. The voting time in the assembly elections would be from 8 am to 6 pm.
Interacting with the media persons here on Friday the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said that 632 new polling booths would be set up in Uttarakhand for the assembly elections. The state would now have 11,447 booths. Chandra said that in view of the Covid-19 conditions the number of voters per booth has been reduced from 1,500 to 1,200. The CEC said that all measures to increase the voting percentage would be taken in the state. In the assembly elections of 2017, the voting percentage was 65.56 per cent. He said that the commission has identified all the booths where less than average ( 65 per cent) voting was done in last elections and the officers have been directed to visit these areas and create awareness about the importance of voting. He said that the voters of Uttarakhand should exercise their franchise and set an example for others. Chandra said that the commission has decided that 100 polling booths in the state be manned by women. Similarly five booths would be manned by Divang employees. “These measures are being taken to increase confidence among women and Divyangs and inspire them to vote,” he said.
Informing about the pro active role of the ECI, Chandra said that postal ballot facility would be provided to all senior citizens who are more than 80 years old. “ They would have to fill a form provided by the BLO and they would be given the facility to vote from home. The ECI is at the door steps of the voters now,’’ he said.
Chandra added that wheelchairs would be provided to Divyang voters and the EC has enrolled 66,700 volunteers to help such voters. He said that there are 66,648 Divyang voters in the state. Similarly the state has 1,43,5553 such voters who have crossed the age of 80 years. The number of service voters in the state is 93,935. Chandra said that facilities such as electricity, drinking water, ramp for physically disabled and arrangement for shade would be provided in all the booths. Similarly, a webcasting facility would be provided in 60 per cent booths of the state. The CEC made it clear that all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would have the VVPAT facility attached. Chandra said that all the political parties would have to provide information about the candidates with criminal background. The parties would also have to tell why it has given tickets to such candidates.
