Odisha: Drivers, Conductors Engaged in Poll Duty to Cast Vote through Postal Ballot

Bhubaneswar: The drivers and conductors engaged in the election duty can cast vote through postal ballot in the ensuing simultaneous General and Assembly elections in Odisha.

Every vote is precious for democracy. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is always making efforts to ensure that not a single voter is excluded from voting. Driver, conductors and cleaners who are engaged in election duty are also given the right to cast vote through postal ballot.

In Odisha, special arrangements have been made for the drivers, conductors and cleaners who will be engaged in election work on the polling day so that they can vote properly. For this, the District Electoral Officer will nominate a Nodal Officer, who will arrange the vehicles to be used for the election process. The information about drivers, conductors and cleaners who will be engaged in the vehicle will be verified by the Nodal Officer and provided with Form-12 for voting through postal ballot.

The Nodal Officer willsend the Form-12 to the Returning Officer of their Constituency at least 7 days prior to the date of polling, ensuring that the necessary information regarding the polling of the concerned drivers, conductors and cleaners is duly filled. By this postal ballot can be arranged for the said voters.

 

As per newly Rule 18(a) in the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, the voters engaged in election work shall cast their votes only at the ‘Facilitation Centre’. Therefore, these drivers, conductors, cleaners will vote at the facilitation center within the time and place fixed by the returning officer.

The Chief Electoral Officer has instructed the Transport Commission and all the District Electoral Officers to take all appropriate measures so that this system made by the Election Commission of India can be properly implemented in Odisha.