the goan I network
MARGAO
Will the State Election Commission (SEC) come out with guidelines to ensure the safety of the polling staff as well as the voters on the use of the Arrow Cross mark rubber stamps by voters to cast ballots in the ensuing election? And, will SEC extend the polling time as the polling is expected to be a slow pace with voters required to keep a gap of one meter in view of the advisory on social distancing.
These and other questions have come to the fore ahead of the Zilla Panchayat election scheduled on
March 22, concerning the safety of the polling staff as well as the voters who queue up at the polling
booths on the day of polling.
While the Election authorities have asked the government to make provision for face masks and
sanitisers for the polling staff manning the booths, questions are being raised whether any safety
precautions will be adopted by the authorities concerning the Arrow Cross mark rubber stamps that will be repeatedly handled by the voters to cast their votes.
For, the arrow cross mark rubbers stamps are things which will be handled repeatedly not only by the polling staff on duty, but by the voters to cast their vote. Local election authorities have no idea how to go about handling the arrow cross mark rubber stamps, whether they would be required to be sanitised after every vote cast by the voters or after a gap of votes. If the arrow cross mark rubber stamps require to be sanitized after every vote being cast at the booths, sources said a provision will have to be made for the procurement of large number of sanitizers. “Just imagine a situation wherein a voter insists on sanitizing the arrow cross mark rubber stamp before casting the vote. The polling officials may find themselves in a corner if adequate sanitisers are not provided at the disposal of the authorities”, an official admitted.
That’s not all. With the medical authorities insisting on keeping a safe distance, minimum one meter, to avoid contact with a person, election officials did not rule out the possibility of polling take place at a slow pace or delay in the exercise. Election officials wondered whether the SEC would come up with guidelines for the extension of time frame for polling, keeping in mind queues of voters at the booths.
“We have not dwelt on these questions as of now. Right now, we have asked the government to make provision for sanitisers and masks for the polling staff. If not sanitisers, we may ask for provision of soap and water at the booths”, informed an official.
