New guidelines for postal ballot in Tripura

Agartala, Feb 8 (UNI) The Election Commission has decided to distribute postal ballots in four phases for ensuring free and fair polls in Tripura, scheduled on February 23.

Official sources said here today, in the first phase, the commission will prepare postal ballots for the service voters outside the state. Later, in the second phase, the polling staff will get the postal ballots. In the third phase, the police personnel, who would not be in a position to cast their votes in their constituencies owing to official work, will get the postal ballots. Lastly, the private car drivers and cleaners engaged in the election duties will get their voting rights.

Informing about the decision, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr G S G Ayyanger said, ''We have 2,110 service voters, including 600 women, working in various parts of the country. The commission will ensure that they can exercise their voting rights.

''Just after the date of nomination withdrawal on February nine, the printing work of postal ballots for service voters will start in the presence of four election observers and one additional Returning Officer. From the next day onwards, it will be sent through post,'' he informed.

He added that about 18,000 government officials will exercise their franchise through postal ballots.

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