PANJIM, OCT 6
In what is said to be the first time in the country, the election officials have decided to use poll monitoring system (PMS) for the Valpoi by-poll, scheduled for October 18.
Disclosing this at a press conference, North Goa Collector and District Election Officer Mihir Wardhan stated that for the first time the PMS is used in entire assembly constituency.
“With the permission of the Election Commission of India we will have a poll monitoring system for Valpoi bye-elections,” Wardhan said adding “We had sent the proposal to the ECI which has given its approval.”
Providing details, the collector explained that through PMS the officials will keep a track of everybody who comes to cast votes.
“Every person will be photographed and his or her finger prints would be captured,” Wardhan said.
Besides, he continued, there would be voter facilitation centre outside the polling booths which will help the voters especially the illiterates to know their serial and part number.
“Even if a person, who is enrolled in the election roll, tells his name the computer will search and provide details,” he stated adding “The aim of PMS is to ensure free and fair elections.”
Giving further details on the bye-elections, Wardhan said, there are total 17912 voters in the constituency, out of which 9106 are males and 8806 are females.
There are 8 male service voters (working for defense services elsewhere), who will be allowed to vote by ballot papers which have already been dispatched, he said.
Wardhan further said that for the first time list of total voters including senior citizens, handicapped, prisoners and dead voters have been prepared by the authorities.
“There are about 8 prisoners from Valpoi and according to rules they are not allowed to vote. Only those who are under preventive detention can cast vote through postal ballot,” he said.
Besides, Wardhan said there are 372 missing voters and there are about 106 dead voters and the names of such voters cannot be deleted on the eve of elections according to the ECI.
Wardhan said that the purpose of carrying out such an exercise is that there is no impersonation.
On the purpose of preparing handicapped voters list he replied they have to provide Braille papers for blind persons and the wheel chairs for the handicapped and for these they had to know the exact number of such voters.
Wardhan also said that the officials will train the blind persons on the Braille script.
