Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 10: To fairly let all the eligible voters cast their votes in the upcoming zila panchayat elections on December 12, the Goa state election commission (SEC) has decided to provide safe and sanitized environment for the Covid positive patients.

However, speculations arose as those part of the election preparations say that it will be a difficult task for SEC if a separate SOP for Covid patients is not issued at the polling booths. "One cannot deny the Covid patients the rights to vote but at the same time, necessary arrangements has to be put in place so that there are no safety issues both for the officials as well as the other electors who will come to vote during that time," an official said who was attending the training session of SEC.

All the Covid positive patients will be provided with PPE kits across the state to cast their votes. The returning officers would forward the required number of PPE kits to the block development officers (BLOs) to be used when they come to the polling station.