The Election Commission of India on Friday issued new guidelines for the conduct of elections amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Postal ballot facility has been extended to the electors with disabilities, people above age of 80 years, people employed in notified essential services and who are COVID-19 positive/possibly infected, the new EC guidelines said.
Face mask, sanitizer, thermal scanners, gloves, face shield and PPE kits will be used during the electoral process ensuring social distancing norms.
Hand gloves will be provided to all electors for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting.
Candidates can file nomination papers online and people will be required to wear face masks during election-related activities.
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The new rules were framed based on the inputs of political parties and chief electoral officers of various states.
The commission has prepared the guidelines for holding the upcoming elections in Bihar, the schedule for which is likely to be announced by September 20.
Election is due in Bihar in the months of October-November, and the state, till date, has registered 1.15 lakh Covid-19 cases, including 574 fatalities.
The Election Commission has also revised the norms of the number of people accompanying the candidate and number of vehicles at the time of filing nomination.
For the first time, the candidates will have the option to deposit security amount online for contesting the elections.
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The EC has limited the number of persons including candidate for door to door campaign to five.
Public meeting and road shows will be allowed with suitable instructions subject to containment instructions issued by the government.
