From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 27: As we all know, it is the people on service like the persons serving in  armed forces, police and those engaged in election-related work who get the first right to vote if their names figure in the electoral rolls and they register themselves by opting for sending postal ballots.

But this category of voters, however, will have to send their postal ballots ahead of the polling day and as many as 25,000 postal ballots have been received till Friday evening according to Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha.

However, yet another category of the electorate will be given  the privilege of exercising their  franchise ahead of all other voters on the polling day, Jha said.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the CEO said all the physically challenged persons  among the electorate all over the State need not wait in the queue for casting their votes in the May 5 elections to the state legislative assembly.

Jha said the Election Commission has taken several steps for enabling differently abled people to cast their votes.
 
“Special arrangements will be made for persons with disability at polling stations,” the CEO said.

Polling booth staff in all assembly constituencies in the State have been specially asked to take steps to assist the physically and visually impaired citizens to cast their votes at the booths.

Voters will be able to take their wheel chairs inside the polling booths for casting their votes, he said.

In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided, temporary ramps would be provided for the purpose.

A blind/inform/visually impaired elector would also be permitted to take an assistant to cast the vote, if he or she so wishes, the CEO said.

Electors with speech and hearing impairment would be given special care as in the case of other differently abled person.

The facility of Braille signage was also being made available on the electronic voting machines for the visually impaired voters to feel the numbers and press an appropriate button to cast the vote.

Polling personnel have been sensitized about the special needs of the differently abled elections, for courteous behaviour towards them and for providing necessary support to them at the polling stations at special training sessions conducted for them, the CEO said.

The CEO said about 22,500 postal ballots have been received as on Friday evening. The Postal Department has been roped in for receiving the postal ballot.

Authorities have seized illegal cash of Rs 20 lakh at Yelahanka in Bangalore, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 12.5 lakh in separate cases at Kustagi in Koppal, Rs 2 lakh at Channapatna in Ramangaram, Rs. 8.35 lakh at Kumata in Karwar, Rs 7 lakh at Subramanyapura in Bangalore, Rs 2.5 lakh at Varthur in Bangalore, Rs 19.52 lakh at Srirangapatna in Mandya and one person each has been arrested in each case, the CEO said.

The police seized 90 bundles containing 1,000 saris at Gonikoppa in Shimoa district and a person was held.

Police also sized ‘T’ shirts at Honnali in Davanagere.