Amid Covid-19, voters in the Marwahi Assembly by-election in Chhattisgarh will have to be masked and wash their hands with soap and water before entering the polling centres as part of steps against the pandemic, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday.

The voters' hands will also be sanitized, Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Baba Saheb Kangale told the media.

Thermal Scanner will be used to check the temperature of electors. Social distancing will have to be maintained while in the queue. Wearing a mask is mandatory.

Additionally, each voter will get gloves. The corona positive and suspected electors, persons with disability and those above 80 years of age can use postal ballot.

She said restrictions have been imposed on the number of persons to accompany candidates for submission of nomination. There can only be two vehicles.

In the door-to-door campaign, only five persons, except security personnel, will be allowed. For road shows the maximum number of vehicles can be five. Earlier it was 10.

All public meetings will be held only at sites identified by the District Electoral Officer and under guidelines issued by the Health Department, she said.

Electoral Photo Identity Cards will be the main document for identification of voters. However, 11 alternate documents including Aadhaar card, MNREGA job card, PAN card, Bank and Post Office Passbook with photograph, driving license, Passport and service identity card with photograph issued to employees are allowed, the officer said.