Thiruvananthapuram: The
election commission has asked the
health department to frame a detailed
action plan for the conduct of upcoming
assembly elections in the wake of
Covid-19.
Election commission of India (ECI) has framed broad guidelines for postal votes and health protocols that are to be observed during elections. On the basis of these guidelines, chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena has instructed health department to formulate the action plan.
ECI’s guidelines include detailed information on the protocols to be followed by political parties, officials and voters.
The chief electoral officer held a discussion with principal secretary (health and family welfare) Rajan Khobragade and other officials on how to implement these guidelines in state during assembly elections.
Health department will also appoint a state-level nodal officer for polls. Under the state nodal officer, there would be district-level nodal officers, who will be medical officers, and under them there would be nodal officers in each constituency and each booth.
Covid-19-affected citizens will be allowed to wear personal protection equipment kits and come to the booth for voting or will be allowed to opt for postal votes. In addition to Covid-19 patients, citizens who are aged over 80 and others who are disabled can also opt for postal votes.
Those who wish to apply for postal votes should apply to the respective returning officer within five days of the election notification. The chief electoral officer said that details of the distribution and collection of postal votes will be informed later.