MARGAO
Ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, South Goa election authorities on Thursday focussed on the location of polling stations on the ground floor wherever feasible, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply, providing adequate rooms and basic amenities for women polling personnel, and establishing proper toilet facilities, including PwD-friendly toilets, at all polling stations.
Returning Officers were instructed to identify personnel for the Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) and Flying Squad Teams well in advance to facilitate efficient planning and ensure the smooth conduct of the Goa Legislative Assembly Elections 2027.
A review meeting on the preparedness for the forthcoming Goa Legislative Assembly Election 2027 was chaired by Egna Cleetus, IAS, Collector & District Election Officer (DEO), South Goa District and H/c Kushavati Districts, in the presence of Johnson Fernandes, Nodal Officer for Manpower Management & Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at Polling Stations, Ramesh Gaonkar, Additional Collector-II, South Goa and H/c Kushavati Districts, and Velton Tellis, Deputy Collector, South Goa and H/c Kushavati Districts.
The meeting was attended by the designated Nodal Officers responsible for various election-related activities.
During the meeting, emphasis was laid on strict adherence to the provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act, the Conduct of Elections Rules and the guidelines of the Election Commission of India to ensure the smooth, free and fair conduct of elections.
The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) were instructed to issue communications to the concerned departments for carrying out the required infrastructure works at polling stations. Separate signage for South Goa District and Kushavati District is to be displayed in the respective Assembly constituencies. The Public Works Department was asked to submit the necessary cost estimates for approval, while issues relating to internet connectivity and other essential infrastructure are to be taken up with the concerned departments to ensure permanent solutions. All pending infrastructure works and inspections are to be completed by the end of September.
The District Election Officer also briefed the newly appointed Returning Officers (ROs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. Returning Officers were instructed to identify personnel for the Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) and Flying Squad Teams well in advance to facilitate efficient planning and ensure the smooth conduct of the Goa Legislative Assembly Elections 2027.
