Deputy Commissioner and Election Officer Meer Anees Ahmmed said the State government has voting compulsory in the zilla and taluk panchayat elections by amending thePanchayat Raj Act.
The elections will be held in the district on February 20. All people should cast votes without fail, he said while addressing reporters here on Wednesday. He said the elections will be held in 29 zilla panchayat and 50 taluk panchayat constituencies between 7 am and 5 pm in 447 polling booths in the district. There will be live internet telecast of voting process in 25 polling booths, he added.
The deputy commissioner no action has been recommended against those who do not vote though voting has been made compulsory.
He said the government is taking several measures to ensure 100 per cent voting in the elections. Voter awareness programmes are being held in villages and as a result, 60 to 70 per cent of voting is taking place. Earlier, the percentage of voting was only 40 to 50, he said.
For the first time, the choice of none of the above (NOTA) has been provided in this election. The voters’ names have been included in the voters’ list, till the last day of filing of the nomination papers. All voters have been provided voters’ identity card. The district has 1,89,763 male and 1,92,780 female voters, he added.
The public campaign will end at 7 pm on February 18. Publicity is not allowed through mobile SMS, MMS or Whatsapp. Also, video clipping should not be displayed, he added.
Sale of liquor has been banned from 7 am on February 19 to 10 pm on February 20 in view of the elections and from 10 am on February 22 to Februray 23 midnight in view of counting of votes, the deputy commissioner said.
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