Election commission of India  has now released guidelines for voting amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

NewDelhi /Patna: Election commission of India (ECI) has now released guidelines for voting amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The guidelines will be applicable to all Assembly election and bye elections conducted during the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

Full new guidelines of Election commission. During #Covid19 epidemic. You can see the all guidelines by clicking on the link here 

 

Election Commission of India’s  Guidelines for Conduct of General Election / Bye election during COVID-19 https://t.co/cRwrbTAMQq

 

The Bihar polls will be the first where these norms will be followed. Extensive consultations were held within the ECI for the formulation of these elections guidelines. The ECI has made it mandatory for every person involved in election-related activities to wear a mask.

 

According to ECI data, the state of Bihar had 6,62,43,193 registered voters in the 2015 Assembly elections. These electors along with 15,35,767 more voters added to the rolls earlier this year will cast their votes for Bihar’s 243 Assembly constituency seats. As per the ECI, registered voters will be provided hand gloves before they head over to the EVM machines to cast their votes. A sufficient number of gloves will also be provided to each official handling the EVM machine. The polling body will also provide face masks and hand sanitizers to voters along with facial PPE kits to children accompanying their parents to the polling booth. The polling body has said that during the process of identification of voters, the voters will be asked to lower the facemask for identification when required. Thermal scanners, social distancing The maximum limit of voters inside a polling station has been restricted to 1,000 instead of 1,500 as observed in prior elections. Thermal scanners will also be installed at the entry point of each polling booth to ensure that any symptomatic Covid-19 patient is not allowed to enter. Either polling booth staff or paramedics or Asha workers will be employed for this purpose. Every booth will be mandatorily sanitized, preferably, a day before voting. A helpdesk will be set up for distribution of tokens to the voter on a first-come-first-serve basis to avoid queues. Markers will also be used to demonstrate social distancing. The help of booth-level workers or volunteers will be sought to enforce the same. Large halls are to be identified and utilised to ensure social distancing. Concerned officers will also be instructed to mobilise adequate number of vehicles for movement of polling. If polling agents are found having a temperature above the prescribed limit, then their reliever shall be allowed by Presiding Officer.

 

The District Education Officers (DEOs) and Returning Officers (ROs) have been instructing to keep enough polling/counting staff in reserve in case any official displays symptoms of Covid-19. As compared to previous elections, more officials will be involved in the 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections . Each polling officer and security personnel will be provided a kit comprising a face mask, sanitiser, face shield and gloves. The EC has also clarified that PPE kits will be made available to polling officers and security personnel wherever required. Nominations, campaign norms For candidates, the process of filing nominations has been moved only online to limit unnecessary physical contact. This will also be the first time candidates will have to make the security deposits backing their candidature through only online payment. 

 

The EC has also clarified that political public meetings and political roadshows will be allowed but subjected to containment measures issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to restrict the spread of Covid-19. In addition, the number of persons who can take part in door-to-door campaigning has been limited to five, including the candidate. Nodal district health officers and district election officers will be responsible for ensuring that all Covid-related guidelines are adhered to during roadshows, door-to-door campaigning, election meetings and public gatherings. In fact, the DEO will identify dedicated grounds for this purpose with clearly marked Entry/Exit points. How will Covid-19 patients vote? Voters infected with Covid-19 and observing quarantine will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour of the poll day at their respective polling stations. This will be done under the strict supervision of health authorities in coordination with sector Magistrates. In the case of those voters who are residing in areas notified as containment zones, the EC will issue separate guidelines in the days to come. Counting of votes No more than seven tables will be allowed in a single counting hall which means that votes in each constituency will be counted at three-four halls by the appointment of additional Assistant Returning Officers. Carrying cases of CUs/VVPATs will be sanitized before they are placed over counting tables. The counting centres will be disinfected before, during and after the counting, the EC added. by agencies

 

Guidelines for Conduct of  General Election/Bye election during COVID-19 https://t.co/cRwrbTAMQq.