Assembly Elections 2022: ECI Issues Strict COVID-19 Guidelines for Polling Stations

Assembly Elections 2022: In view of prevailing COVID situation, Election Commission of India has issued detailed instructions for assured minimum facilities at each polling station which needs to be on ground floor and, shall have good access road leading to Polling station building and is equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) like drinking water, waiting shed, toilet with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, ramp of  appropriate gradient for the PwD electors and a standard voting compartment etc. This will be further supplemented with COVID mitigation measures like sanitizers, thermal scanner, soap etc., as notified from time to time.

According to notice released by the Election Commission of India, in addition, Polling Station will include these facilities mentioned below:

(1) Mandatory sanitization of Polling Station, preferably, a day before the poll.

(2) Thermal checking of voters at entry point of polling station location/Polling station, either by polling staff or Para Medical staff or Asha worker.

(3) If temperature is above the set norms of MoHF&W at first reading,then it will be checked twice and if it remains, then the elector shall be provided with token/certificate and will be asked to come

for voting at the last hour of poll. At the last hour of poll, suchelectors shall be facilitated for casting their vote, strictly following COVID related preventive measures.

(4) Help Desk for distribution of token to the voters on first come first basis so that they do not wait in the queue.

(5) Markers to demonstrate social distancing for queue.

(6) Earmarking circle for 15-20 persons of 2 yards (6 feet) distance for voters standing in the queue depending on the availability of space. There shall be three queues each, for male, female, and

PwD/ Senior citizen voters.

(7) The services of BLOs, volunteers etc may be engaged to monitorand regulate social distancing norms strictly.

(8) One shaded waiting areas with chairs, dari etc. will be provided, for male and female separately, within the polling station premises

(9) Wherever possible, Booth App shall be used at the polling station.

 (10) Face Masks will be kept in reserve for those electors who are not carrying their mask.

(11) Awareness posters on COVID should be displayed at visible locations.

(12) If polling agent or counting agent has temperature above the prescribed limit, then their reliever shall be allowed by Presiding Officer, who will keep a record of the same.

(13) During the process of identification of voter, voters will be required to lower their facemask for identification, when required.

(14) Hand gloves shall be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter register and pressing the button of EVM for voting.

(15) COVID patients and others who are quarantined will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour of the poll on poll day at their respective Polling Stations, under the supervision of health authorities, strictly following COVID related preventive measures. Sector Magistrates shall coordinate this in their allocated polling stations. Record of such electors shall be maintained by the Presiding Officer.

(16) Proper mechanism of collection and disposal of waste / used gloves, masks etc shall be put in place at each Polling Station for disposal as per standard health protocol.

You can check the details guidelines in this regard on the official website of ECI.