PANAJI: Brushing off the demand of many political parties contesting the state assembly election in the state to cancel postal ballots system followed for government employees, who had been requisitioned for election duty on February 4, state chief electoral officer Kunal on Monday said that postal ballots are issued under provisions of law and the process for their issue and receipt has been defined under Representation of People’s Act, 1951 and Conduct of Election Rules 1961.
“The marked copy of electoral roll where postal ballot is marked for those who have been issued postal ballot is used by presiding officer, and is sealed after voting and is in strong room,” he added, pointing out that the counterfoil of postal ballot where serial numbers of postal ballot is written is also sealed in strong room, and so no question of leaking of serial numbers of postal ballot arise.
“We had requested everyone that if anywhere phenomenon of pressurising or bribing of government officials, who have been issued postal ballots or any demand for such bribe is observed, then that should be brought to the notice of returning officer, deputy electoral officer or chief electoral officer,” Kunal stated, assuring that strict penal action would be taken in such cases.
“The state chief electoral office does not maintain any record of officials, who have been issued postal ballots,” Kunal informed, noting that report from deputy electoral officers as regards total number of postal ballots issued and received is compiled in the state chief electoral office and is shared with the Election Commission of India.
“Same has also been shared with the representatives of political parties in meeting held last week,” he concluded.