Special voting arrangement for displaced persons in Manipur

IMPHAL — The Manipur State Election Commission has informed electors, especially internally displaced persons (IDPs), to collect the ID forms from the respective district election officers/deputy commissioners to cast votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Elections in Manipur will be conducted in two phases—April 19 and 26—to elect its two Lok Sabha MPs from Inner-Manipur and Outer-Manipur parliamentary constituencies.

In a notification, it has been informed that the ID forms for casting votes on poll day can also be obtained from the designated assistant returning officers of the districts. Alternatively, they can be downloaded from the CEO’s website (ceomanipur.nic.in) or the DEO’s website. Filled-out ID forms are to be submitted to the respective district election officer’s office.

The Election Commission of India has devised an arrangement for the IDPs to vote at relief camps. According to the arrangement, IDPs will be regarded as ordinary residents of the location from which they have been displaced. Consequently, they will be treated as electors of their original places.

Over 50,000 people have been displaced due to the ethnic conflict that has plagued Manipur since May 3 of last year. Consequently, the IDPs are currently seeking refuge at various relief camps established across the state.