HYDERABAD: With a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in the past two weeks, the State Election Commission (SEC) has made wearing of mask mandatory for voters to enter polling stations apart from maintaining social distancing.
With polls to urban local bodies scheduled to be held on April 30, the SEC has decided to enforce strict regulations. Voters will be allowed to lower their face mask only for identification. As there is a chance of spread of coronavirus during campaign, the election authorities are insisting on regulations on campaigning with huge gatherings.
State election commissioner C Partha Sarathi said that only five persons, including the candidate, and excluding security would be permitted for door-to-door campaign.
Even in convoys, every two vehicles should be split leaving a gap of 10 metres. For roadshows, a minimum half an hour gap should be maintained on the same routes. Public meetings will also be allowed adhering to Covid-19 guidelines.
The returning officers have been asked to ensure sanitisation of polling station a day before the polling staff arrival and separate shaded waiting areas for both male and females by arranging chairs. The directions were given to give circle markings at every polling station for 15 persons. Sanitisers will be provided at every entry and exit points of polling station.
“It is the duty of the booth-level officer and other staff to see that the voters maintain social distance by leaving six feet distance. At any given point of time, only one person is allowed inside the polling station,” the SEC stated.
Notification for holding elections for two municipal corporations and five municipalities including Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) and Khammam corporation has already been issued and polling will be held on April 30. Apart from Greater Hyderabad, some districts, including Warangal urban and Khammam, have registered more number of positive cases.