- The Election Commission has reduced the number of phases to three due to COVID-19.
- Moreover, the voting time will be extended by one hour and votes will be cast from 7 am till 6 pm, this excludes the left wing extremism-affected areas.
- EC has provided guidelines for social distancing norms and sanitisation protocols
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything that is the ‘norm’. From how we live to how we function, and elections are also adapting to the new normal. While several political parties, including Rashtriya Janata Dal had suggested delaying the election, the Election Commission says it has taken all the necessary steps to ensure social distancing.
Here’s how elections will take place amidst this coronavirus pandemic:
- Polls to be held in lesser phases
“Elections entail large scale deployment of security forces. We have tried to minimise their movement over a long distance. We have reduced the number of phases due to this," says Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commission of India,
- More polling stations, lesser voters per station
- Voting hours extended
- Provisions for COVID-19 patients
- Filing nominations online
The number of people who will accompany the candidate to file nomination papers is restricted to two people. For campaigning, door-to-door campaigning limit is three persons; convoys will be restricted to five cars.
- The two crucial factors: Social distancing and sanitisation
- 7 lakh hand sanitizers
- 46 lakh masks
- 6 lakh PPE kits
- 6.7 lakh face shields
- 23 lakh pairs of hand gloves
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