Code of conduct comes into effect
NEW DELHI, SEPT 20
The Election Commission on Monday announced the Valpoi by-election on October 18 to fill up the vacancy caused by resignation of independent MLA Vishwajit Rane in June while joining the Congress along with Puti Gaonkar of BJP whom he had defeated in the 2007 elections.
Notification for filling up the casual vacancy will be issued on Wednesday calling nominations up to September 29. Scrutiny will be on October 1 and withdrawals allowed up to October 4. The counting of votes will take place on October 21 from 8 am. The polling fixed for October 18 will be from 8 am to 5 pm.
The pre-delimited electoral rolls have been revised and published on September 14. The Commission has decided to use EVMs in this by-election in all the polling stations.
Adequate number of EVMs has been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the poll is conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.
In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that the voter’s identification shall be mandatory. Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) shall be the main document of identity of a voter.
However, in order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the electoral rolls, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents for identification of voters at the time of poll.
MODEL CODE: With the announcement of the poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate effect in the North Goa district, binding all candidates, political parties and the State Government, an Election Commission press release said.
The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government, debarring it from making any announcements concerning Goa until the by-election is over.
