Kodagu: Deputy Commissioner Dr. B. C. Satheesh said, “The Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed the elderly above 80 years of age, differently-abled persons, Covid-19 infected/affected persons and those in essential services and voters who are unable to go to the polling station to cast their votes through postal ballots. He said that those who are eligible can avail this opportunity.
He was speaking at a meeting with leaders of political parties at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office hall in the City on Tuesday March 21. “As per the directions of the Election Commission of India, senior citizens above the age of 80 years, differently-abled persons, persons affected by COVID-19 and those serving in essential services like power, BSNL, Railways, Doordarshan, All India Radio, Health, Aviation, State Road Transport Corporation, Fire, Media, Traffic Police and Ambulance can vote by obtaining postal ballots in connection with the Karnataka Assembly General Elections 2023,” he said.
“Booth level officers will visit the voters’ houses and to the area where the polling station is located, as per the details provided by the Returning Officer, AVSC, AVDO and AVCO will be distributed to the voters. The sector officers will monitor the process of issuing and collecting Form 12D applications,” he said.
Dr. B.C. Satheesh said that all these works will be fully supervised by the Returning Officers of the respective Assembly Constituencies. Deputy Commissioner Dr. B. C. Satheesh made it clear that if a postal voter chooses to vote through postal ballot once, he will not be able to go to the polling booth and cast his vote under any circumstances.
On the last date for filing nominations for the election, thw voters’ list will be finalised. No additional addition or deletion will be made in that list till the elections are over, he said.
In case of absent voters belonging to covid-19 category, the returning officer will verify the certificate issued by the competent authority before approving Form-12D for postal voting, he said.
The returning officer will enter the marked copy of the voters’ list as ‘PB’ (postal ballot) in front of his name. A voter who has been given a postal ballot will not be allowed to cast his vote at the polling station, he said.
