Election Commission has decided not to extend facility of postal ballot to electors above 65 years in Bihar assembly polls and bypolls in near future. The decision has been taken in view of constraints of logistics, manpower and safety protocols of COVID -19.
However, facility of optional postal ballot to electors who are above 80 years of age, PwD voters, the electors engaged in essential services and voters who are COVID- 19 positive or suspect in quarantine will be extended in these elections.
Earlier, in view of COVID-19 pandemic and health risk to old person, the Commission had recommended extension of optional postal ballot facilities to voters above 65 years to minimize their vulnerability and exposure at the polling stations and to COVID positive voters and voters under quarantine so that they are not deprived of their voting rights. On this recommendation, Law Ministry notified the amended rules.
In a statement, the poll body said, it has been constantly monitoring the electoral preparedness for the coming by-elections and assembly polls in Bihar in view of this unprecedented environment. It has already limited the number of electors to one thousand for each polling station for ease of voting, especially for elderly and vulnerable sections of electors. In view of this, the state is creating additional around 34 thousand polling stations. Some political parties had also opposed the move of postal ballot.
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