ECI allows postal ballot for Covid-affected MLAs

Gandhinagar: Considering the possibility of a few MLAs finding it difficult to vote in the Rajya Sabha election scheduled on June 19 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed the chief electoral officers (CEO) of Gujarat and other states to accept postal ballot votes after stringent verification.

However, even if a MLA is Covid-19 positive, he or she will be allowed to physically vote after wearing a PPE kit.

Three BJP MLAs from the city have tested positive for Covid-19. While two of them have been discharged, the third will complete his home quarantine on June 18, Wednesday, a day before the RS election.

S Murali Krishna, CEO, Gujarat said, “The ECI has allowed voting through postal ballot after due application and complete verification. All three MLAs who had tested positive for Covid-19 have recovered. If anyone applies for postal ballot voting, we will allow him to cast vote through postal ballot in the June 19 Rajya Sabha election.”

The CEO said that all necessary precautions have been put into place to ensure that the voting process is conducted smoothly. “If applications for postal ballot are made, we will verify and allow postal ballost. Meanwhile, Covid-positive MLAs will also be allowed to physically cast their vote in the election after wearing PPE kits. The polling room will be fully sanitized after they have finished voting,” he said.