Dubakka By Election: COVID-19 Infected People Allowed To Cast Vote Through Postal Ballot

In the upcoming Dubakka by election, nearly 1,500 people would cast their votes through the postal ballot method.

According to sources, among 1,500 people, the majority are senior citizens or physically challenged and the remaining people tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.

The decision was taken by the Election Commission of India. This is the first time that senior citizens (people above 80 years) handicapped people and COVID-19 infected would also cast their votes.

Earlier, voting chance through the postal ballot was only restricted to polling staff.

However, now call voters including virus-infected would fill a form-12(d) and exercise their franchise through postal ballot.

According to State election officials, booth level officers would be collecting postal ballots by visiting houses of the voters by the 2nd of November.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is taking all measures to ensure polling goes smoothly without any trouble during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, nearly 310 polling stations were set up to maintain social distancing.

Maximum number of voters per each polling station is restricted to below 900 from the previous 1,500 voters.

After Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Dubbaka passed away, the MLA position fell vacant. Mr. Ramalinga Reddy died of cardiac arrest on the 6th of August at a private hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana.

In regard to this, amid the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 situation, the Telangana State Election Commission released a notice for the Dubbaka by polls.

According to the released notification, the election will be scheduled on the 3rd November, 2020.

While the last date for nominations is on 16th of October, the scrutiny of the nominations would be held on the 17th of October.

The last date for withdrawing the nominations is on the 19th October, 2020.

The results of the elections would be announced on the 10th of November.

Stay tuned for further updates.