In order to encourage maximum voter turnout in upcoming Punjab Assembly Elections 2022, Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed 80-years-old and above voters, Persons with Disability (more than 40%) and COVID-19 positive patients to exercise their franchise via postal ballots. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju, during informal interaction with media here on Monday, said that of total 2.09 crores electors in the state there are over 5.33 lakh people of 80+ years age, while over 1.34 lakh people fall under PwD category.
“We encourage PwD and 80+ years age voters to cast their vote at polling stations, however, ECI have provided postal ballot facility in case their health condition doesn’t allow them to come at polling station,” he said, adding that, PwD can also avail pick and drop facility to reach the polling booths and they will be facilitated accordingly.
Dr Raju said that special arrangements including voting priority etc are being made to encourage NRI voters, who have Indian Passports, so that they can exercise their franchise in hassle-free manner. Around 1.5 lakh volunteers from NSS, NCC and Bharat scouts and guides have been engaged to facilitate electors, he added. He said that to encourage third-gender voters to cast their votes they are creating awareness under the slogan “Mahila, Purush Atte Transgender, Loktantar Vich Sab Barabar”.
The CEO Punjab has also launched 30 Mobile Vans, equipped with LED and Audio System, which will roam across the state to create voter awareness, message of voter registration and voting on the poll day. Smaller districts get one van each while bigger districts will be given two vans on which audio-visual messages, video clips and jingles under SVEEP activities will be played to sensitise people of their voting right, he said. He added that the Special Summary Revision campaign is going on to enroll unenrolled eligible voters in categories including service voters, PwD, Transgender and Young voters. On the requirement of security forces during the elections, Dr Raju said that they have received the demand of 700 companies from the district heads, however, the final requirement will be sent after the review.
He informed that the state government has allocated a sufficient budget of Rs 340 crores to conduct Punjab Assembly Elections.
Notably, Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) ECI Nitesh Kumar Vyas on Saturday, held a virtual meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers (DEOs) and CPs/SSPs to review the poll preparedness in the state.