Postal ballot casting for absentee voters underway in Nagaland

To facilitate the absentee voters in the category of senior citizen (AVSC) and persons with disabilities (AVPD), the deputy commissioner and district election officer of Kohima initiated a house-to-house postal ballot facility in the district on Saturday.

The exercise was carried out by the polling teams in all the six assembly constituencies to enable the listed AVSC and AVPD to exercise their franchise through postal ballot.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), V Shashank Shekhar informed that it has received a total of 3228 applicants in the category of senior citizens and 173 for persons with disabilities for casting postal ballot in the upcoming 14th Nagaland legislative assembly election scheduled on February 27.

He informed that the visit of polling officials which consisted of two polling officials, one micro observer, one videographer and security personnel had started on February 16. He added that the polling team would visit those voters at the address mentioned in the application of Form-12D for facilitating the absentee voters by postal ballot paper.

He further informed that the voting process for those categories would be completed one day prior to the actual polling day.

Efforts on to ensure no voter is left behind

To fulfill the commitment of ‘No voter to be left behind’ and ensuring ‘accessible elections’ in the upcoming general election, the Election department has made efforts to provide amenities in the polling stations in order to reduce the rigors of polling processes and make it a pleasant experience on the day of the poll for all categories of voters.

A DIPR report stated that efforts are being made to provide minimum facilities such as drinking water, electricity, ramp for PwD voters, toilet and waiting shed for the voters in the polling stations.

It would also provide special entry passes to the identified PwD voters; even to those unidentified PwD voters, if produce disability cards to the presiding officer; octogenarian and older voters; pregnant women voters (if identified by Anganwadi workers etc); and women voters with babies in arms to enable them cast votes without waiting in the queue.

It stated that under Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1960, the visually impaired could have one companion to the polling booth to record votes in the machine as per choice.

It informed that on the right side of the press button of the balloting unit of EVM contains Braille numerals for visually impaired voters to select their choice of candidate/ NOTA to cast vote.

It stated that the electoral law not only guarantees equality of PwDs but also mandates the election machinery to facilitate their access and participation in the electoral processes within the polling station, among others, like the provision of ramps for wheelchair-user voters and parking facilities for the vehicles of the PwD voters at the premises.

The Election department has asked all the political parties to include in their political campaign manifesto and plan for the protection and safeguarding of the rights of PwDs and senior citizens and provide ample opportunity for participating freely. The district election officers are also instructed to facilitate the special needs of the PwDs and senior citizen voters.

It mentioned that the directives were issued for all stakeholders to comply in order to enable PwDs and senior citizen voters to come out and participate in the election and make democracy wholesome and reflective of people's choices and aspirations.