Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi has directed all districts to pay special attention to distribution of postal ballots and photo-bearing voter slips.He said that process of both the works should be completed within prescribedtime-limit.
Deputy Election Commissioner Tripathi was reviewing election preparations in Bhopal, Narmadapuram and Sagar divisions at the office of the Chief Electoral Office here on Wednesday.
Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vl Kanta Rao, general and election expenditure observers, all three divisions’ commissioners, IGs, district collectors, SPs etc attended the meeting.
Tripathi directed officers that distribution of photo-bearing voter slips should be ensure till November 22 before polling on November 25. Distribution of photo-bearing voter slips should be monitored by district collectors.
There should no partiality in the distribution of voter slips and immediate action should be taken in case of irregularities.
Additional copies of voter slips should also be kept outside polling booths. This time, voter slip will be in the form of invitation for polling. Therefore, they should be distributed in time. He said that all districts must do rehearsal of communication plan. Districts should make concrete intelligence arrangements to prevent distribution of cash and liquor.
Tripathi directed collectors to deploy some responsible persons for distribution of postal ballots to polling staff. Facilitation centres for postal ballots should be set up and political parties informed about them.
Form-12 for postal ballots must be filled up carefully to avoid any error. Webcasting arrangements should be made identified polling booths. He asked observers to tour areas under their respective jurisdictions and hold discussions with voters. All must know names, addresses and telephone numbers of observers.
They must also have information regarding action complaints being received at helpline and districts. Tripathi said that the voters reaching polling booths till 5 pm should be given slips queue by queue so that they can cast their ballots even after expiry of prescribed polling time. Proper lighting arrangements and voter compartments should be made at polling booths.
Tripathi said that at the time of seizure of cash, it should be kept in view that seized amount must belong to political parties, their workers and agents.
Information about large quantity of amount should also be given to Income Tax Department. Communication plan should be rehearsal before polling. Observers should coordinate with political parties. Strict action should be taken against officers and employees if their campaign in support of any political party and if charges are proved they should be suspended.
He informed that remaining companies of paramilitary forces will come to the state after completion of elections in Chhattisgarh on November 22. Single-window system should be introduced to give permissions to political parties in all districts.