Karwar (DHNS): Preparations are being made by the district administration in Uttar Kannada to facilitate soldiers from the district serving in different parts of the country to exercise their voting rights in their native constituency.

Defence personnel serving in other States including the border areas of the country, or are in the CRPF, BSF, ITBF; GREF in Border Road Organisation; Central Industrial Security Force are considered service voters. 

Service voters

There are a total of 1,274 such service voters from the six Assembly constituencies in the district. This includes 488 in Haliyal constituency, 284 in Karwar, 159 in Kumta, 87 in Bhatkal, 140 in Sirsi and 116 in Yellapur constituencies. These voters are being given an opportunity to vote through postal ballot.

As per District Election officials, those from the district employed under the Government of India, in a post outside India or member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and serving outside the State can also cast their vote through postal ballot. It takes time to send the ballot paper to these service voters and them sending it back through the post. So, preparations are being made to ensure that the ballot papers to them are sent on a priority basis.

“The ballot paper will be prepared only after the final list of candidates is ready. These ballot papers are then sent to service voters. After voting, they have to post the ballot paper to the election officer of their respective constituency,” officials explained.

Those above 80 yrs

The Election Commission has also provided the special facility to those above the age of 80 years. Under this facility, all those above 80 years can vote from their home itself.

As per sources, this will be implemented on an experimental basis from this Assembly elections. 

If this is implemented, 27,399 voters will get the opportunity to exercise their franchise through postal ballot. There are 11,584 men and 15,815 women above the age of 80 in the district.

Survey begins

Already, the officials on poll-duty have been visiting houses and collecting data of citizen above the age of 80 and willing to vote from their homes.

The administration is providing application to such voters who have to fill-up the form and submit to the administration seeking this special facility.