PANJIM: North Goa District Election Officer (DEO) Ajit Roy has identified 15,590 voters aged 80 and above and 4,827 people with disabilities for postal ballot facility.
Roy said voters wishing exercise their franchise by postal ballot, have to make applications to the returning officer in Form-12D, latest by January 26. The postal ballot voting will commence from February 5 and go on till February 12.
“Any voter opting for postal ballot facility would not be able to cast a vote at the polling station, if she or he is not available at their residence at time of postal ballot voting,” DEO explained adding that the polling officer will visit twice the residence of such voters, if not available at the first instance.
Roy said COVID-19 patients, who are hospitalised or unable to come can also cast their votes through postal ballots. “However, those positive patients, who can come physically, will be granted last one hour of polling,” he said.
ECI has also included essential services, including personnel of the Media, Food Civil Supplies and the Consumer Affairs, the Food Corporation of India, All India Radio, Doordarshan, Post and Telegraph, the Railways, BSNL; power, health, fire services and civil aviation can also opt for the facility in case they are on duty. For them, postal voting centres (PVCs) will be open for up to three consecutive days in all the constituencies before the date fixed for State Assembly.
