Postal voting facility will be extended to media persons, milma and railway, criminal case will be registered on officials concerned, for bogus voting: Chief electoral officer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena has said that this time more sections of voters will be provided with postal voting facility. “Apart from government staff and higher officials, this time postal voting facility will be extended to media persons, milma and railway staff. The final day of the campaign could be celebrated as per Covid 19 protocols. Even though more clarity should be received on those matters from CEC,” Meena said.

“Only those media persons who get EC’s nod can vote via postal ballot. For this purpose, the 12D form should be filled and submitted to authorities concerned. Video graphing will be made mandatory this time. If officials facilitate bogus voting, a criminal case will be charged and they will be suspended. Those officials engaged in poll duty will be protected by the commission. If they get wounded in accidents at polling booths, they will get compensation of up to Rs 15 lakh,” he added.