Teachers and government employees in hills learn lessons on election process

 With panchayat elections being conducted after 22 years in hills, many staff posted in the region have no experience in conducting polls through ballot papers

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 23.06.23: Many teachers and government employees in the Darjeeling hills either had to learn new lessons or revise old chapters on the election process on Wednesday.

With panchayat elections being conducted after 22 years in the hills, many employees posted in the region have no experience in conducting polls through ballot papers.

“I was among the few who had conducted an election using ballot papers during the panchayat polls in 2000.There were many who did not have ballot experience. There were some who would be conducting the elections for the first time as well,” said a teacher.

Another teacher who attended the training organised by the administration on Wednesday said there were some changes that they had to note.

“For example, it seems there will be form 17 A which is a voter account register as the details of those who exercise their franchise have to be mentioned in the ballot paper counterfoil,” said the teacher.

Form 18 which registers the details of ballot papers will be an addition to the polling paraphernalia in the hills.

“There will be two ballot boxes and two ballot papers of different colours for gram panchayat and panchayat samiti,” said the teacher, who noted that in 2000, there was only one ballot paper as elections had been held only in gram panchayats.

In 2000, the counting of votes and declaration of results had taken place at the booth level. But this time, ballot boxes need to be sealed and handed over to the returning officer at the block level.

“It seems even the seating arrangement of polling personnel will be different because of two-tier elections. Some places will also get a double-column ballot paper where the number of voters is more. These are the additions that we need to keep in mind,” said another employee.

Many employees said the changes “were no rocket science” but admitted that it would be a new experience as they were accustomed to voting through EVMs.

EVMs had been used for the first time in the Paravur Assembly constituency in Ernakulam district of Kerala in 1982. However, the absence of a specific law prescribing the EVMs' use led to the Supreme Court striking down that election.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph