Vaccinating every officer, increasing booths: EC's top priority for upcoming polls in 5 states

The Election Commission is expecting to vaccinate every polling officer and significantly increase the number of staff, Central forces and polling booths for the upcoming assembly polls in five states next year.

As the Election Commission (EC) begins discussions about the upcoming elections in five states of Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa, which are scheduled for next year, the priority is to get every officer, who will be involved in the polling process, to be fully vaccinated and increase the number of polling booths. The EC has been receiving regular updates from the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of the five states about advance preparations going on for the upcoming polls. The CEOs have been asked by the commission to be prepared to implement fresh guidelines in case Covid numbers increase during the election period.