PANJIM: Persons with disability (PwD), senior citizen over 80 years of age and COVID-19 infected people will have an opportunity to cast their vote through postal ballot in the upcoming State Assembly elections in Goa. The move is aimed to increase the voter turnout.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) IAS Kunal on Friday chaired a meeting of political party representatives, wherein they were informed about the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines on postal ballot, revision of electoral roll and launch of SUVIDHA app for permissions.
The elections in Goa are due in February 2022.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narayan Sawant said as per the guidelines laid down by the ECI, the PwD, senior citizens above 80 years and COVID infected persons will be allowed to vote from home through postal ballot facility.
At present, voting through postal ballot is available to armed forces and those assigned poll duties. “This is for the first time that the facility will be implemented in Goa. States like Assam, West Bengal, where recent elections took place, have already extended postal ballot facility to these categories,” Sawant said.
He said that postal ballot will be an option, in case those voters are not willing or able to come to polling booths.
Sawant said that PwD voters who wishes to opt for the home-based ‘postal ballot’ system, will have to submit a proper disability certificate to avail of the service and for this purpose a special camp is organized next week in North and South Goa.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, MGP and Goa Forward Party (GFP).
Further, Sawant informed that in view of COVID pandemic, the CEO has decided to impose a cap of 1000 voters per booth. “This is basically to avoid crowding. We might have to increase the number of booths to accommodate all,” he said.
The summary revision of electoral roll will take place from November 1, when the draft roll will be published for necessary changes like addition or deletion of names. The draft will be kept open for a period of 30 days. The final electoral roll will be published on January 5, 2022.
During the meeting, the political representatives raised concern over delay in obtaining permissions for holding meetings, rallies or other activities related to campaign. To which, CEO informed that SUVIDHA app- a single window clearance system, will be launched soon for grant of online permissions to political parties and candidates.
