Bihar Assembly Election 2020: How COVID-19 pandemic changed voting this time

The Election Commission of India has taken several steps to ensure smooth voting in poll-bound Bihar

New Delhi, First Published Sep 25, 2020, 2:56 PM IST | Last Updated Sep 25, 2020, 2:56 PM IST

New Delhi: As the Election Commission of India announced the election dates for Bihar polls to be held in 3 phases in 2 months, we look at how it has reportedly taken the pains to organise it.

Here are the salient features, as per reports:

1. Voting timing has been increased by one hour. Voting will take place from 7am to 6pm as opposed to 7am to 5pm. However, this will be not be applicable in Maoist-hit areas.

Also read: Bihar Assembly Election 2020: Polls to be held on October 28, November 3 and 7

2. District election officers will identify grounds for physical campaigning and also ensure circles are marked on the ground to ensure social distancing.

3. Number of voters per polling station has been cut to 1,000 to facilitate social distancing. This will raise the number of polling stations to over 1 lakh in 2020 from 65,337 in the 2015 elections.

Also read: Bihar Assembly Election 2020: Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea for deferment of polls

4. Covid-19 patients who are quarantined will be able to cast their vote on the last day of polling at their respective polling stations, under the supervision of health authorities. This is besides the option of a postal facility already extended to them.

5. Over 7 lakh hand sanitiser units, nearly 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh units of faces-shields, 23 lakh (pairs of) hand gloves have been arranged for the polls. 7.2 crore single-use hand gloves have also been arranged for the voters.

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