Chief Electoral Office introduces Form 12D for elderly, PWDs and Covid positive voters for upcoming bye-polls

SHILLONG:

With an aim to make the electoral process convenient for the senior citizens, Covid-19 patients, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Meghalaya has introduced Form 12D in the upcoming Maryngkneng, Mawphlang, and Rajabala bye-polls on October 30.

Form 12D are postal ballots meant for senior citizens over the age of 80 years, and other vulnerable categories of people, that will allow them to vote from the convenience of their homes through postal ballots, rather than casting their votes physically, informed CEO Frederick Kharkongor.

Kharkongor informed that 300 12D applications have been received so far from all three constituencies, of which 132, 144 and 54 for Maryngkneng, Mawphlang, and Rajabala, respectively.

As per details provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, the three constituencies will have a total of 168 polling stations.

The CEO further informed that Mawryngneng has 60 polling booths for 17765 male and 18986 female voters, Mawphlang has 50 polling booths for 15719 males and 17475 females, and Rajabala has 58 booths for 6105 male and 16645 female franchisees.

Each polling booth will have a COVID Nodal Officer, informed Kharkongor, adding that all Covid SOPs issued by the government will be in place at all stations.

Of the 168 polling booths in the three constituencies, 47 have been identified as “vulnerable” polling stations owing to security reasons, Kharkongor said.

In addition to the above protocols, two companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will also be deployed at the polling booths as part of security measures, the CEO office informed.

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