Not more than five people for door to door canvassing in polls

ECI new campaign norms in Covid-19 times

@prashanthamine

Mumbai: Used to stage massive show of support and strength at the time of filing of nomination papers, contesting candidates and political parties might find the new guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for canvassing in general elections and by-elections during Covid-19, might come as a dampener for some. In the new rules laid down, only five persons will be allowed for door to door canvassing, voters will be given hand gloves before casting their vote, online submission of security deposit, online nominations allowed.

Taking the cue from the various circulars being issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) since the lockdown was announced in March this year, the ECI on July 17 had sought the views of all the political parties till July 31 on the conduct of General Elections and by-elections during the Covid-19 period. The move of the ECI has added significance as the general elections to the Bihar legislative assembly are due in October-November this year.

As per the new revised norms issued by the ECI, only two persons shall be allowed to accompany the candidate and only two vehicles will be allowed at the time of nomination. The Commission has also created the optional facility to fill the nomination form and the affidavit online. The same can be later submitted before the Returning Officer concerned after taking a printout.

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For the first time, the candidates will have the option to deposit the requisite security amount for contesting the elections online. Keeping the containment guidelines in view, the Commission has limited the number of persons including candidates for door to door campaign to five. Public meeting and road shows shall be permissible with suitable instructions subject to containment instructions issued by the MHA or the State Government.

Face Mask, Sanitizer, Thermal scanners, gloves, face shield and PPE kits shall be used during the electoral process ensuring social distancing norms. Hand gloves shall be provided to all the electors for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting.

The total number of electors (voters) per polling booth has been brought down to 1,000 persons per booth from the earlier 1,500. As far as possible polling booths shall be located in large public halls so that norms of social distancing can be maintained. Every voter shall be screened for temperature reading and if the readings do not match the set norms, such voters will be given tokens and asked to come for voting in the last hour before the close of actual voting. A nodal health officer shall be deputed at each of the respective state, district and assembly constituencies, state the ECI guidelines.

Postal ballot facility has been extended to electors who are classified in essential services category and those who are Covid-19 positive/suspect and in quarantine home/institutional. The same norms laid down for casting of votes shall be applied on the day of counting of votes.

Besides the restriction of five persons accompanying the candidate, excluding the bodyguards, during door to door campaigning, for road shows the convoy of vehicles used in Road Shows shall be broken after every five vehicles and not 10. Public gatherings shall be held at pre-designated grounds and rallies will be held while adhering to social distancing norms.

Anybody found violating these instructions on COVID-19 measures will be liable to proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable as per the orders issued by the MHA.

The new guidelines of the ECI might well be tested in the by-election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh, following the demise of sitting MP Amar Singh on August 1. The election to the lone seat will be held on September 11. Notification for the elections shall be issued on August 25, while the last date for filing nomination papers will be September 1, scrutiny of nomination papers will be taken up on September 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is September 4.