Under the guidance of Collector and District Election Officer Mr. Sanjay Agrawal, Additional Collector Mr. C.L. Marakandey convened a meeting today at the Collector’s office to discuss the provision of postal voting as mandatory service in various departments. The initiative aims to facilitate voting for employees unable to visit polling stations due to official duties during the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Details of the Initiative: The Election Commission of India has designated 10 essential services for postal voting, including the Health Department, Electricity Department, Media Personnel with accreditation, Rail Transportation, BSNL, Postal and Telegram Department, Doordarshan, All India Radio, Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited, and officials of the Food Corporation of India.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process: Employees eligible for postal voting must submit their applications within five days of the election notification being issued. Applications should be submitted to the relevant Assistant Returning Officer along with a photocopy of the voter ID card.

Important Dates and Constituencies: The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Chhattisgarh will be conducted in three phases. Deadlines for submitting applications vary by constituency. For example, the deadline for Bastar Lok Sabha constituency is March 25, 2024, for the first phase, while for the second phase, it’s April 2, 2024, covering constituencies like Rajnandgaon, Kanker, and Mahasamund.

Verification Process and Implementation: Applications submitted in the prescribed format will be verified by designated nodal officers at the district level. Upon verification, eligible individuals will be able to cast their votes at designated postal voting centers in the district, exclusively through postal ballots.

Conclusion: The introduction of postal voting for select categories of individuals represents a significant step towards enhancing electoral participation and inclusivity. By providing a convenient option for voting, especially for those with official duties, the Election Commission aims to ensure that every eligible citizen can exercise their democratic right effectively. Stay tuned for further updates as the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 draw closer!