IT News
Imphal, Nov 5:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducts elections— General, Assembly or By elections, whether in pleasant times or such time of COVID-19 pandemic with the motto of ‘not leaving a single voter behind’. Under the supervision of Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur; District Election Office, Imphal West is ready with various safety measures of COVID-19 for voters in respect of 22-Wangoi Assembly Constituency By Election 2020 that falls on 7th November, 2020.
“No need to panic, come forward, exercise your own rights and cast your valuable votes,” said the District Election Officer, Imphal West Naorem Praveen Singh. Talking in his official chamber, DC Lamphelpat, DEO Imphal West added that safety measures for COVID- safe election focussing on masks and hand gloves distribution, thermal screening for all electors, sanitizer, soap and water for washing hands, social distancing for at least six feet to each other, token system to avoid queues, optional postal ballot facility for electors who are above the age of 80 and COVID positive & quarantined electors at different COVID care centres. He also stated that sanitization of polling stations are among the mandatory measures.
Explaining vividly about the process of casting vote, he stated that every voter who comes out to vote will be provided hand gloves while standing in queue maintaining COVID appropriate physical distance. Upon entering the polling booth, polling officer-I will check the voter’s name on voter list and ID proof and the voter need to lower his/her facemask for identification. Polling officer-II will mark voter’s finger nail with indelible ink, give a slip and take voter’s signature. Polling officer-III will take the slip and check the mark on voter’s finger nail. Then, the voter can press ‘button’ against the candidate of his/her choice to vote on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM); consequently a red light glows with a beep sound. If any voter don’t want to choose any candidate, then ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) button is available as last option. Voter can check the printed paper slip through glass on VVPAT window on EVM-VVPAT after which the voter has to dispose the used glove in a dustbin and sanitize hands before exiting the polling station.
In another step for COVID safe election, if the body temperature of any voter is found above the set norms in two readings, then the elector will be given token/ certificate to come and vote at last hour of poll. Adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures, electors with COVID-19 related symptoms will be allowed to vote in the last hour of the poll. Every polling personnel will be provided Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kit, Praveen assured.
