Page 104 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

86 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19

3) All PPTs, training materials, relevant documents, topic wise video clips, question papers for self-assessment
may be uploaded in app/ portal so that any election official can access it as per requirement.
4) Sufficient number of Polling/Counting/Poll related staffs shall also be kept in reserve by DEO/RO, to replace
in case any polling personnel displays COVlD-l9 symptoms.
NOMINATION PROCESS

I. Following additional options to facilitate online mode are hereby provided:
1) Nomination form will also be available online on the website of CEO/DEO. An intending candidate may fill in
it online and its print may be taken for submitting before the Returning Officer as specified in Form-1 (Rule-
3 of Conduct of Election Rules 1961).
2) Affidavit may also be filled in online on the website of CEO/DEO and its print can be taken and after
notarization it may be submitted along with the nomination form before the Returning Officer.
3) Candidate may deposit security money through online mode at thedesignated platform. However, a
candidate will continue to have the option of deposit in cash in the treasury.
4) Candidate may have the option to seek his/her elector certification for the purpose of nomination online .

II. Further, Commission has directed:
1) Number of persons to accompany candidate for submission of Nomination is restricted to two (2). (This is
in supersession of existing Para 5.8.1 of Returning Officer’s Handbook 2019)
2) Number of vehicles for the purposes of nomination is restricted to two (2). (This is in supersession of existing
Para 5.8.1 of Returning Officer’s Handbook 2019)
3) Returning Officer’s chamber should have sufficient space to perform the functions of nomination, scrutiny
and symbol allocation following social distancing norms.

4) Returning Officer should allot staggered time in advance to prospective candidates.
5 Large space for waiting for candidate(s) should be arranged.
6) All steps required to be taken for the submission of nomination form and affidavit shall continue to operate
as per the provisions contained in the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

ELECTION MATERIAL
Election Material Kit will be prepared in a spacious and sufficiently large hall following all safety, sanitation and
social distancing measures.

DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION OF ELECTION MATERIAL
1 Large halls/spaces should be identified for distribution/collection of election material.
2) As far as practicable, it should be organized in decentralized manner.

3) Prior staggered time should be allocated to the polling teams for distribution/ collection of election material.
TIMING OF 3rd RANDOMIZATION:
Timing for 3rd randomization of polling staff be increased from 24 hrs to 72 hrs in order to avoid large gathering of
polling staff at dispatch centres.
(This is in supersession of ECI No. 464/Inst/2008/EPS dated 19th September, 2008)
NO. OF ELECTORS IN POLLING STATION
There shall be maximum 1000 electors instead of 1500 electors in a polling station.

(Commission’s Instruction No.23/SEC/2020-ERS, dated 23rd July, 2020)
POLLING STATION ARRANGEMENTS
Commission has issued detailed instructions for assured minimum facilities at each polling station. Now, in view
of COVID-19 situation, following additional facilities/steps should be taken:
1) Mandatory sanitization of Polling Station, preferably, a day before the poll.
2) Thermal Scanner at the entry point of every polling station location.

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