Port Blair, Apr 12: As per the directions of Election Commission of India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency today on 12.04.2024 started the special poll procedures for voting by postal ballot by certain category of citizens such as absentee voters/senior citizen above 85 yrs age/persons with disability above 40% category.
The District Election Officers of the three (3) Districts of the A & N Islands had made extensive exercise to cover all such special category of voters and altogether 436 persons in all the three Districts shall be voting by postal ballots through home voting. Schedule for home voting has been drawn and the Mobile Polling Teams comprising of Presiding Officers, Polling Officers, Micro Observers, BLO, Sector Officer, Police Personnel and Videographers were deputed for Home voting of eligible voters from 12.04.2023 to 13.04.2023. One day has been kept as reserved on 14.04.2024, in case of non availability of voter at their home during the scheduled visit.
Total 24 Nos. Teams were deputed in North and Middle Andaman District, 10 in Mayabunder, 09 in Diglipur & 05 in Rangat Tehsil wherein 159 votes were casted through postal ballots in the category of absentee voters in North and Middle Andaman District out of which 87 voters were in Senior Citizen (85+) category, 72 voters were PWD voters (Benchmark Disability 40% and above).
whereas, in South Andaman District 27 Nos. Teams were deputed, out of which 16 in Port Blair, 09 in Ferrargunj & 02 in Little Andaman Tehsil wherein 176 votes were casted through postal ballots in the category of absentee voters in South Andaman District out of which 80 voters were in Senior Citizen (85+) category, 96 voters were PWD voters (Benchmark Disability 40% and above).
In Nicobar District 5 Nos. Teams were deputed, out of which 01 in Nicobar, 02 in Nancowry & 02 in Campbell Bay Tehsil wherein 27 votes were casted through postal ballots in the category of absentee voters in South Andaman District out of which 21 voters were in Senior Citizen (85+) category, 06 voters were PWD voters (Benchmark Disability 40% and above).
The polling teams distributed chocolates/sweets to all the special category voters. In this exercise, a 103 year voter from Billyground area also casted her vote from home. Such an inspiring spectacle would certainly motivate all other electors to vote on 19th April, 2024.
It is also mentioned that these mobile polling teams would be again visiting the eligible voters as per the schedule on 13th April 2024 also. All are requested to cooperate and make this unique exercise a grand success.
