Chief Electoral Officer of Himachal Pradesh: Making efforts to guarantee increased voter turnout
Maneesh Garg, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), said today that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is making good progress in securing increased voter turnout for the upcoming elections.
He stated that those working in critical services for the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly by-elections in Himachal have been informed about who would be eligible to vote via mail-in ballots in compliance with clause (c) of Section 60 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Garg stated the following list of essential services in Himachal Pradesh: local media representatives authorized by the Election Commission of India; the Health Department (doctor, paramedical staff, and ambulance services); the Fire Department; Himachal Road Transport Corporations (drivers and conductors, excluding local route bus services within city); Irrigation and Public Health (pump operators and turners); Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (electricians and line-men); and jail staff.
All of these individuals will be able to cast a ballot on the dates specified by the corresponding ROs/AROs at the Postal Voting Centers (PVCs) established at the Assembly constituency level in accordance with their applications in Form 12D. Additionally, nodal officials have been urged to be nominated by the appropriate departments in order to assist the staff in this regard.
