Tamil Nadu elections and coronavirus: As the nation is gearing up for 5 state assembly elections, Tamil Nadu is working to assure that elections are carried out in accordance with coronavirus protocol. Accordingly, the voters infected with COVID-19 would be provided PPE kits to cast their votes, even though all other individuals would get hand gloves. The choice was announced by state Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, a report by news agency PTI mentioned. This is getting completed to assure that there are no probabilities of transmission of virus by way of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The state is going to polls on April 6 and for the elections, the Election Commission would also assure that all other preventive measures, like thermal screening, are followed at the booths. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing at the polling stations is mandatory, Sahoo mentioned. Apart from that, in case of a individual possessing a fever or suspected to be infected with COVID-19, they would get a healthcare certificate and would get to vote in the final one hour of the polling. The PPE kits to these patients would be supplied by the authorities, and the arrangements have been produced to assure the availability of the kits.
Due to the pandemic, the quantity of personnel as properly as the polling stations have been elevated, which is why the state would now have close to 89,000 booths, as against about 68,000. More than 4.79 lakh personnel would be manning these booths, Sahoo mentioned. The state has a total of 76 counting centres, the report added.
For the initially time, at least 50% of the booths would be monitored employing net cameras, some thing that was previously only completed for polling stations that have been sensitive and vulnerable.
Voters more than the age of 80 years, these infected with COVID-19 and these suffering from a disability would be in a position to also opt for postal ballot if they so want, and in such a case, they would have to inform their respective Returning Officers of their preference. This would have to be completed on or prior to March 16, and then the District Election Officers would arrange for the method of issuing ballots to such voters.
General observers and police observers have been deployed currently, with all the preparations getting carried out for the polling as per the recommendations. The state would permit for nomination of candidates from March 12 to March 19, of which Saturday and Sunday would not be open for filing of applications.