1.4L B’gavi people to vote from home

Belagavi: The election commission has decided to allow voting from home for those who have crossed the age of 80 and physically challenged individuals. However, the decision has become a herculean task in Belagavi, as such voters are in high numbers.
According to the sources of district election office, there are total 1,00,019 voters who have crossed the age of 80. The number of physically challenged voters is 41,720. Altogether, the number of postal voters will be 1,41,739.
Earlier, the elderly and physically challenged voters used to visit the polling station to vote, despite hardships. On many occasions, candidates or their followers arranged vehicles for them. This gave an opportunity to the candidates to influence the voters. This time, the Election Commission has decided to change that tradition.
Speaking to the TOI, Harshal Bhoyar, ZP CEO and chairman of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), said the Election Commission has made provisions for the physically challenged and elderly people. “On the polling day, election duty personnel will visit the locations of such voters and get them to vote through the prescribed process. The entire process will be video-recorded for transparency,” he said.“We are encouraging the physically challenged to vote at polling stations. We are facilitating them with walking ramps, wheelchairs, and other amenities. Other facilities like drinking water, toilet, pandal for shade will also be arranged,” he stated.
Belagavi district comprises 18 assembly segments and Belagavi (South) constituency has 8,198 voters who have crossed 80 years of age which is the highest, followed by Belagavi (North)- 7,036, Nipani- 6,768, Belagavi (Rural)- 6,469 and Raibag- 6,408. Ramdurg constituency 4,204 voters of 80+ age, which is the lowest in the district.