Elections 2022: Here’s How COVID Positive Patients, Suspected Cases Will Be Able To Cast Vote

The Election Commission informed how voters who have either tested COVID positive or are suspected of contracting the infection will be able to exercise their franchise.

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: With the announcement of poll dates for the upcoming Assembly Elections, the Election Commission of India on Saturday revised guidelines for conduction of elections in the country amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

In the new ‘Revised Broad Guidelines 2022’, the ECI has updated its broad guidelines issued on August 21, 2020.

As elections approach amid the rising cases of Coronavirus with the surge in Omicron infections, the Election Commission has informed about how voters who have either tested COVID positive or are suspected of contracting the infection will be able to exercise their franchise.

As per the new norms, COVID patients and all others who may be under quarantine will be allowed to cast their vote “at the last hour of the poll day at their respective Polling Stations, under the supervision of health authorities, strictly following COVID-19 related preventive measures”. 

There is also the option of postal ballots.

Postal Ballot

ECI stated that the option of Postal Ballot facility has been extended to voters of following categories:

• Electors who are flagged as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and who are having benchmark disabilities.
• Electors above the age of 80 years
•  Electors employed in notified essential services
• Electors who are COVID positive/suspect and in quarantine (home/institutional) 

Notably, voters who arrive at the poll booth will be checked for temperature.

“If temperature is above the set norms of MoH&FW at first reading, then it will be checked twice and if it remains, then the elector shall be provided with token/certificate and will be asked to come for voting at the last hour of poll,” the ECI guidelines read. 

Arrangements In View Of COVID 

Here are some of the arrangements that will be ensured at the polling booths, as mandated by the Election Commission:

• Mandatory sanitization of Polling Station, preferably, a day before the poll.
• Thermal Scanner at the entry point of every polling station location.
• Thermal Checking of voters at entry point of polling station location/Polling station, either by polling staff or Para Medical staff or Asha worker.
• Marker to demonstrate social distancing for queue. 
• Sanitizer at the entry/exit point of every polling station.
• Face Masks in reserves for those electors who are not carrying the mask will be kept.
• During the process of identification, the voters will require to lower the facemask for identification, when required. At any given time, only 1(one) voter shall be allowed to stand in front of each polling official maintaining social distance.
• Hand gloves shall be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter register and pressing the EVM for voting.
• Sanitizers shall be kept inside the booth at appropriate locations with clear directions for use by voters.

Notably, the physical rallies of political parties or probable candidates or any other group related to elections have been banned till January 15. No roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies, and processions shall be allowed till January 15.

Assembly elections in all five states will be completed in total seven phases with Uttar Pradesh having seven-phase polling starting from February 10 till March 7.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.