The Election Commission has released the guidelines on Friday for conducting elections in the Corona era. The Commission has given the facility of filling nomination to candidates online due to Corona. However, it will be printed and the candidate has to hand it over to the Election Officer. Apart from this, it is necessary to have a thermal scanner in all the rooms, halls or campus being used for the election.
Thermal scanners will be at every booth and everyone will be scanned at the entry point. Apart from this, 1000 voters will be called instead of 1500 at each booth. If someone’s temperature is found high, then they will be able to vote in the last hour. Read the Election Commission’s guidelines in detail …
How will the process of Nomination take place this time?
- Nomination forms will be provided online. Candidates will be able to fill it online only. They will have to hand over his print to the Election Officer.
- The affidavit can also be filed online. The print can be kept with you. After notarization, he can be assigned to the election officer with the nomination.
- Candidates will be able to deposit the amount of bail online. Cash giving option will also be available.
- At the time of submitting the nomination form, more than two people will not be able to accompany the candidate. They will also not be allowed to carry more than two vehicles.
- The process of taking the nomination form, scrutinizing it and handing over election marks, where complete, should be sufficient.
- Candidates should be called at different times. The waiting area for the candidates should also be large.
How will voting take place at the polling booth?
- Only 1000 voters will be called at a polling booth instead of 1500.
- The polling station will be sanitized one day before voting.
- Soap, water, the sanitizer will be provided at the entry and exit points of each polling station. Sanitizers will also be placed inside the booth.
- Masks will be kept in the reserve at the booth for voters who do not come with a mask.
- A thermal scanner will be installed at the entry point of each booth. Thermal checking will be done at the entry point of every voter.
What will happen if the temperature gets high while going to vote?
- If the temperature of a voter in the first reading is above the prescribed scale, then the temperature will be taken again. For the second time, if it turns out high again, the voter will be given a token/certificate and will be asked to come to the booth in the last hour of voting. In the last hour of voting, such voters will be allowed to vote.
- Voters with more temperature will be given tokens on the basis of first low, first basis so that they do not have to fall in line. A help desk will also be created to give tokens.
- If the polling agent or counting agent’s temperature is also found to be high, election officials will be able to allow his reliever to come to the booth.
Will you be able to vote if you’re a Corona positive?
- Patients who were quarantined due to coronavirus will also be able to cast their votes under the supervision of health officials in the last hour of voting. The concerned sector magistrate will co-ordinate and will keep a check on the voting of COVID-19 patients.
- A separate guideline will be issued for the voters who are residing in the Containment Zone.
- Corona positive, corona suspects or quarantined people will also be able to vote with the postal ballot.
What other arrangements will be there at the polling booth?
- For the social distancing of voters, 15 to 20 circles will be made at a distance of two yards, i.e., 6-6 feet. There will be three queues for voters. The first will be for men, the second for women and the third will be for handicapped and senior citizens.
- If necessary the voter will be asked to bring down the mask for identification.
- Only one voter can go in front of every election officer. Every voter will be given gloves to sign on the register and press the EVM button.
- The booth app will be used wherever possible. Polling booths will have posters of Corona awareness.
- A waiting area will be made under the shed with chairs and carpets for men and women.
- Each election officer will be given a mask, sanitizer, face shield and gloves.
Who can vote through the postal ballot?
- Handicapped
- People above 80 years old
- People involved in essential services
- Corona positive / Corona suspect / Quarantined people at home or outside
How will the votes be counted?
- More than 7 counting tables will not be allowed in the counting hall. In such a situation, returning officers can count the votes cast for a constituency in 3-4 halls.
- The control unit / VVPAT is required to be sanitized before placing it on the counting table. The task of removing the seal from the VVPAT and displaying the results on the control unit will be done by an officer at a table.
- The result shown on the control unit can also be displayed on a large screen so that a large number of counting agents cannot accumulate in the counting hall.
- The hall will be disinfected before counting, during counting and even after counting.
- Extra manpower will be required to count the postal ballot.
What is the General Guideline of Election?
- Everyone involved in the election process must wear a mask.
- There will be a thermal screening of every person in the rooms/premises used for election purposes.
- Sanitation, soap and water will have to be provided.
- Social distancing will have to be maintained. For this, a large hall should be identified and used.
- If any employee involved in election duty has corona infection then enough staff should be hired to handle the duty.
- The process of giving and gathering election materials should also take place in a large hall.
- Everything related to the first and second EVMs should take place in a big hall.
- Sanitizers were present in sufficient quantity.
- Gloves should be provided to every officer handling EVM / VVPAT.