Covid-19
COVID-19: Election Commission issues guidelines for upcoming elections
New Delhi/IBNS: The Election Commission of India on Friday released a 12-page document titled "Broad Guidelines for Conduct of General Elections/By-Elections During COVID-19".
Under the latest guidelines the door-to-door campaigns should be restricted to five people and gloves for voters is a must before they press the button on Electronic Voting Machines, said reports.
The Election Commission has also allowed public meetings and roadshows maintaining COVID-19 containment guidelines set by the Home Ministry.
Other standard safety measures like using sanitizers, wearing masks, installing thermal scanners and wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) kits will be compulsory during electioneering and polling.
Candidates can file nomination papers and deposit security money online, the guidelines said.
Elections are due in October-November in Bihar which has reported 1.15 lakh coronavirus cases including over 570 deaths till now.
The Election Commission said Nodal health officers shall be designated for the state, district and assembly constituency to oversee the COVID-19 related safety measures.
Election Officials may be trained online due to coronavirus restrictions, the poll body said.
Polling and counting staff will be kept in reserve to replace election staff who show coronavirus infection symptoms.
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