‘Poll officials should adhere to ECI guidelines’

Polling officials of various levels in the 543 polling booths in the district, should strictly follow the directions issued by the Election Commission of India, said Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy.

The deputy commissioner who is also the district election officer (DEO) spoke at a training programme for the presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, second, third and fourth booth level officers at St Joseph School in Madikeri and later at St Annamma School in Virajpet on Thursday.

Stating that the responsibility of the booth officers in important, the DEO detailed the duties of officers during mustering and de-mustering.

There is a need to give more attention to the handling of electronic voting machines, mock voting and postal ballot as well, she said and added that the election officers should work in coordination to make the voting process free of confusions.

Additional Deputy Commissioner P Shivaraju said that all staff should be present at the booth on the mustering day, at the said time without fail.

In case any officer is absent, the issue should be brought to the notice of the assistant returning officer and tahsildar. Alternate arrangements made subsequent to the absence of the election staff should be confirmed through the mustering list, he added.

Assistant Commissioner and Madikeri Assembly Assistant Returning Officer T Javaregowda said that the booth level officers should work impartially.

All materials related to the voting should be received from the returning officer. The election staff should also discuss with the ARO regarding the preparation towards mustering and de-mustering, said Javaregowda.