Representative image | Photo: AFP
Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission is considering to help COVID-19 patients cast their postal vote in their houses itself. The voter will be informed in advance through SMS and the officials, namely the presiding officer, will visit the house along with the postal ballot, declaration form, two covers, application form and other necessary items. They will also capture the voting in video. Police security also will be ensured.
The arrangements have been made after categorising COVID patients infected three days before election and those infected after this. The officials will visit the patients in first category. Health department officials will collect details of COVID patients 10 days before polling. Then they will observe the area for 6 days continuously.
The details of the patients collected by the returning officers should be handed over to the district polling officer. After this, the details of the people who can cast postal vote is submitted to the returning officer.
People who are visually challenged or have other disabilities can seek help of a trusted person and cast vote through cross or tick marking. The COVID patients in second category who turn positive just before the election can cast vote by reaching the booth in the last hours of polling.
Discussions are progressing regarding the postal vote for COVID patients and quarantined people as per suggestions of the government and the Election Commission. The government is planning to end postal vote two days before the polls. But the Election Commission has taken the stand that they should be allowed to cast vote till 3 pm on the previous day of polling.
If the presiding officers could not meet the voter when they visit the house, they will come back once again. If the patient fails to meet the officers on the second time too, then they will lose the chance to vote.
The government may arrange facilities to take the people who turn positive at government hospitals just before the polling, to the booth. If they are in private hospitals, the patients have to reach at their own risk.
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