Collectors should comply with EC’s directives on postal ballots

Bhopal: All district collectors in Madhya Pradesh have been asked to ensure action about issuance of postal ballots during ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections as per directives of Election Commission of India. They have been directed to pay special attention to a number of important points pertaining to postal ballots.
It has been directed to ensure inclusion of Vidhan Sabha constituency number & name, page number electoral roll and Saral number positively in the database of election workers. Collectors have been asked to ensure that names of all employees residing in their respective districts are included in electoral roll of concerning Vidhan Sabha constituency positively. It has been directed to provide application form (Form-12) for issuance of postal ballots along with appointment letters to all election workers and get it filled up before training.
Directives have also been given to ensure separate arrangement to issue postal ballots on the day of second phase training. Concerning Vidhan Sabha constituency’s Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer will have to be present necessarily at training venue. For preventing likely delay in receipt of postal ballots, the commission is in favour of the system that after receiving postal ballots, the voters should mark their candidates on them, put the form in sealed envelop and cast it in sealed box.
It has been directed to inform trainees of this entire process. Directives have been given that if authorised representative of a trainee reaches the venue then proper seating arrangement should be made for him. Postal ballots will be sent by registered post now. Election Commission has directed to issue postal ballots to all police personnel. Returning officers will have to ensure that postal ballots are issued to all police personnel for which they have applied whether they have been deployed in election duty or not. Like other election workers, drivers, conductors and cleaners of vehicles requisitioned for election will also be eligible for receiving postal ballots.