Bihar Assembly elections | Can’t remain silent spectator to conditions, says EC Chandra about polls amid COVID-19
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Various services have been prolonged to COVID-19 sufferers to forged their vote, together with postal poll facility and extension of polling time.
Noting that the coronavirus pandemic offered a singular problem for the ballot panel in holding protected elections, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra on Saturday mentioned varied services have been prolonged to COVID-19 sufferers to forged their vote within the Bihar Assembly polls, together with postal poll facility and extension of polling time.
He mentioned the Election Commission can’t remain “silent” to conditions the place individuals affected by COVID-19 are unable to train their democratic proper.
“This time, besides senior citizens and women, we had to make additional arrangements for COVID patients… We extended polling time by one hour,” he mentioned addressing an occasion.
Mr. Chandra mentioned although postal poll facility was prolonged, any individual wanting to forged vote on the polling station was free to accomplish that.
“Our polling officials were fully equipped with PPE kits and other measures to handle the situation,” he mentioned.
Many individuals affected by COVID-19 got here to forged their votes in all of the three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7 (Saturday).
“We cannot remain silent, we cannot remain spectators that a person suffering from COVID … and he be deprived of casting vote. That is the basic theme of EC,” he mentioned.
Mr. Chandra mentioned the voter turnout within the first two phases has dispelled all fears and doubts, including the voters of Bihar have defeated the worry of virus as they got here out in massive numbers.
In its broad pointers issued in August for holding polls amid the pandemic, the ballot panel prolonged the choice of postal poll for electors who’re marked as individuals with disabilities and people above 80 years.
Electors who’re COVID-19 constructive or are suspected of getting the an infection and in quarantine at dwelling or at an establishment have been additionally allowed to train the postal poll possibility.
An official defined that this postal poll facility is totally different from the one prolonged to service voters. Here, these keen to use the ability have to replenish a type. Officials then carry the poll to the residence of such voters and videograph the voting to guarantee transparency.
“COVID-19 patients who are quarantined will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour of the poll day at their respective polling stations, under the supervision of health authorities… Sector magistrates shall coordinate this in their allocated polling stations,” the rules mentioned.
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