Postal Ballot Collection of Senior Citizens & Physically Disabled in Dakshina Kannada Starts

Dakshina Kannada district administration has highest number of senior citizens and physically disabled persons who have availed postal ballot facility in the State. The process of collection of postal ballots from these voters will start on May 1.

Of the 46,918 persons aged 80 and above, Form 12D was issued to 33,856 persons. Of these 10,776 persons opted for postal ballot. The highest number of 2,095 are from Mangalore City South Assembly constituency, 1,591 from Mangalore City North, 1,385 from Sullia, 1,374 from Moodbidri, 1,335 from Belthangady, 1,277 from Puttur, 1,122 from Bantwal, and 597 from Mangalore Assembly constituency.

Of the 14,200 physically disabled persons, Form 12D was issued to 13,075 persons. Of this, 2,021 have opted for postal ballot. As many as 396 are from Sullia Assembly constituency, 372 from Belthangady, 244 from Moodbidri, 160 from Mangalore City North, 73 from Mangalore City South, 133 from Mangalore, 349 from Bantwal and 294 from Puttur Assembly constituency.

A total of 368 teams of polling personnel have been formed to collect postal ballots from 184 sectors in the eight Assembly constituencies. One sector comprises of 10 polling stations. Each team comprises of five persons that includes two polling officers, a micro observer and a videographer. This team, along with representatives of candidates, will visit house of voters. After taking declaration on three forms, the voter will be given the ballot paper and the stamp. The voter will allowed to caste his or her vote in secrecy. The voter will be given helper, if requisition is made. It will take around 30 minutes to complete the process at each house. This whole voting scene will be video recorded and it will be uploaded voter-wise to the related system of Election Commission of India. The collection of postal ballots has to be completed by May 6.