Patna, Sep 26 ( UNI) The impact of COVID 19 pandemic is evident on assembly elections in Bihar where number of electorates have reduced to 1000 from 1500 at every booth whereas the number polling stations have increased by 62.96% to maintain social distancing for preventing the possible spread of coronavirus infection at the time of polling.
According to the Election Commission (EC), number of polling stations in 2015 was 65,367 which this time has gone up to 1,06,526 and there will be maximum 1000 electors instead of 1500 electors in a polling station.
Average number of electors at a Polling Station has reduced to 684 thus year from 1026 in 2015.
In view of COVID-19, the Commission has decided to extend the poll timing by one hour, informed the EC.
The Commission, in view of COVID-19 situation has instructed for sanitization of polling booth, thermal scanning at entry point of every polling station location, arrangements for avoiding long queue, social distancing to be followed in the queue, shaded waiting areas with facilities at the booth, providing of sanitizer at the entry and exit point of every polling station, use face mask was mandatory, sitting arrangement in polling station for the polling personnel and polling agents with social distancing, only one voter will be allowed to stand in front of each polling official, hand gloves will be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting and the COVID-19 patients in quarantine will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour, proper mechanism of collection and disposal of waste and used gloves would also be arranged.
Average number of electors at a Polling Station has reduced to 684 thus year from 1026 in 2015.
In view of COVID-19, the Commission has decided to extend the poll timing by one hour, informed the EC.
The Commission, in view of COVID-19 situation has instructed for sanitization of polling booth, thermal scanning at entry point of every polling station location, arrangements for avoiding long queue, social distancing to be followed in the queue, shaded waiting areas with facilities at the booth, providing of sanitizer at the entry and exit point of every polling station, use face mask was mandatory, sitting arrangement in polling station for the polling personnel and polling agents with social distancing, only one voter will be allowed to stand in front of each polling official, hand gloves will be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting and the COVID-19 patients in quarantine will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour, proper mechanism of collection and disposal of waste and used gloves would also be arranged.
