Rajasthan polls | Journalists, employees of 8 departments to get postal ballot facility
The Hindu
Mediapersons, 8 departments' employees in Rajasthan to be given option to vote via postal ballots in November Assembly elections. Election Commission issued notification; first time journalists in State to avail facility. Doctors, paramedical staff, ambulance workers, electricians, linemen, pump operators, turners, milk committees, transport corp. employees, firefighters & authorised mediapersons to vote via postal ballots. Returning Officer to issue Form 12-D to those on duty on voting day.
Mediapersons and employees of eight departments such as electricity, transport and health will be able to vote through postal ballots in the November 23 Rajasthan Assembly elections, an official said on Wednesday.
The Election Commission has issued a notification in this regard and it will be the first time journalists in the State can avail the postal ballot facility.
Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that according to the order, doctors, paramedical staff, ambulance workers, electricians in the energy department, linemen and pump operators in the Public Health Engineering Department, turners, those working in milk committees of Rajasthan, employees and drivers and conductors in transport corporation, firefighters and mediapersons authorised by the Election Commission will be given the facility of voting through postal ballots from this year.
Mr. Gupta said that for the first time journalists have been included in the category of service voters. Till now, the facility of service voting was available only to the employees and officers posted on election duty, army or paramilitary personnel.
Mr. Gupta said that from now onwards all these essential service people have been given the facility of voting through postal ballots.
The departments concerned will have to inform about such employees who will be on duty on the day of voting and who may be deprived of voting on that day. On the basis of that list, the Returning Officer will issue Form 12-D to those employees and they will be given the facility of voting through postal ballots at facilitation centres.
Election to the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 23.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.