Covid-19 positive patient castes vote at a polling station in Puducherry
Elections for Puducherry assembly held today in a single phase.
On Tuesday, April 6, a COVID-19 positive patient casted his vote at government primary school polling station in Karuvadikuppam, Puducherry. The Election Commission of India had designated one hour period between 6 pm to 7 pm for voting by COVID Positive Patients.
#PuducherryElections: A COVID-19 patient cast vote at Government Primary School polling station in Karuvadikuppam earlier today.
Election Commission had designated one hour period between 6 pm & 7 pm for voting by COVID positive patients. pic.twitter.com/keVezPXtC1
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021
Till 7 PM, Voting turnout in Puducherry was 78.13%. Till 3 PM, an estimated 66 per cent of the 10.04 lakh voters in the Union Territory of Puducherry exercised their franchise on Tuesday. Polling was brisk from the beginning. Official sources said that 66.36 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in Puducherry while the Karaikal region recorded 64.86 per cent, Mahe 56.53 per cent and Yanam region 71.60 per cent.
Election Commission released circular stating, “Voting held in 1.5 lakh Polling Stations across 475 Assembly Constituencies. Polling was conducted peacefully in 1,53,538 Polling Stations spread across 475 Assembly Constituencies today, in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and for third phase of Assam and West Bengal. The number of Polling Stations has increased in view of the fact that the number of voters per polling station has been reduced from 1500 to 1000 keeping social distancing norms in view.”
To ensure inclusive and accessible elections, ECI has extended the option of postal ballot facility to PwDs, senior citizens above the age of 80 years, COVID-19 suspect or affected persons and persons employed in essential services. The observers at the ground level oversaw that proper arrangements for facilitation were made available for these voters.
On polling stations across five states, Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like drinking water, waiting shed, toilet with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, ramp of appropriate gradient for wheelchair for PwD electors and a standard voting compartment etc. were made available at all the polling stations. Arrangements like transport facility, volunteers assisting Persons with Disability (PwD) and senior citizens were present at the polling stations.
