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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 17 (EMN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified a list of essential services wherein persons employed in these services could avail the facility of Postal Ballots during the general election to the Legislative Assembly of Manipur.
As per the ECI’s notification, the list of essential services include Electricity department, BSNL, Railways, Post and Telegram, Doordarshan, All India Radio, Health department in connection with Covid-19, Aviation, Fire Services, Ambulance Services and Media persons authorised by ECI for poll day coverage.
People employed in these services, who will not be present in their respective polling station are classified as class of persons to give vote by postal ballot in the said general election as per the provisions of Part-III A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 as amended by ministry of Law and Justice, government of India.
The ECI’s decision on July 16, 2020, in pursuance of the Conduct of Election (Amendment) Rules, 2019, and the Conduct of Elections (Amendment) 2020, had given the facility of voting through postal ballot (PB) to the senior citizens who are above 80 years of age; persons with disability flagged in the database for electoral roll and Covid-19 suspect or affected persons.
The returning officers have started the distribution of application forms for postal ballots (Form 12D) for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 80+ elders. Only the PWDs who are flagged in the electoral roll and who possess disability certificate can avail this facility of opting for postal ballot. However, if the PWDs and 80+ elders wish to cast their vote, they can come out on the polling day and cast their votes physically at their respective polling stations.