There are as many as 11,83,461 voters in the district

Karwar (DHNS): “It has been decided to provide postal ballot facility to residents above 80 years and disabled persons who cannot reach polling booths in the coming Assembly polls”, informed Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti.

He told presspersons here on Tuesday that as per the direction of the Election Commission, relevant forms will be given to people above 80 years in advance. Later, their physical fitness will be verified. Priority will be to encourage them to cast their vote at a polling station. If that seems impossible, then arrangements will be made for postal voting. There are around 27,399 voters above 80 years and 14,724 voters with physical disabilities in the district, the DC explained.

Polling stations

Preparations are being made to set up 1,435 polling stations in the district. Every Assembly constituency will have two polling stations with young staff, 30 with women staff members and 12 with the disabled staff. As many as 12 model polling stations will be set up which will display the specialties of the district including the tribal culture, Kavalikatti said.

“As per the voters’ list as of March 3, there are as many as 11,83,461 voters in the district. A total of 199 polling stations have been identified as sensitive and 55 as hyper sensitive. As many as 2,344 booth-level agents have been appointed. Political parties should take the initiative to appoint agents at all polling booths,” he appealed. A total of 25 checkposts including three inter-State and 14 inter-district have been set up to prevent illegal activities. There are 1,015 rowdy sheeters in the district while three have been deported. The deportation of four more leaders is in the stage of inquiry, the DC said

Poll boycott

Kavalikattai said the people had warned of boycotting the upcoming polls in eight places. The lack of basic infrastructure in their villages led these people to decide on staying away from the polls. But, the officials of concerned departments were sent to the villages and the people were persuaded to cast their vote, he added.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Iswar Kandoo, Superintendent of Police N Vishnuvardhan, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju Mogaveer were present.