THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena has said that nomination papers can be submitted online for the Assembly elections. Those who submit the nomination papers online must download and submit a copy to the Returning Officer.

During a pre-poll discussion with political parties, he also said that the security deposit can also be paid online. Two people can accompany the candidate to submit the nomination. The campaign march can have a maximum of five vehicles. One procession will be allowed only half an hour after the other.

Postal voting will be facilitated for those over 80 years of age, persons with disabilities and COVID patients. A special team will be formed at the district level to deliver postal votes directly. The application should be submitted to the respective returning officer in form 12D. The candidates can apply for up to five days from the date of declaration of the election.

The electoral officer will prepare a special list of postal voters on a booth basis. A special team of officials will deliver ballots to households for postal voting.

Officials have been asked to make necessary arrangements to ensure that social distancing norms are strictly followed by people who reach the polling booths. Candidates have also been asked to submit crime and case details along with the nomination papers. These matters should be published in the media three times. If the candidates are involved in crimes or cases, an explanation should be given along with the nomination papers as to why the other candidates were not chosen.

A booth can have a maximum of 1000 voters. Auxiliary polling stations will be set up at booths with more than a thousand voters. As many as 15,730 additional booths will be required.