Yahoo Movies ‘We Travelled and Covered the Postal Ballot Voting in West Bengal’
The Election Commission for the first time has allowed postal ballot facility available to senior citizens above the age of 80 years and others in the ongoing West Bengal Assembly Election.
The Block Development Office (BDO) of West Bengal hired about 143 freelance photographers to assist their team to document the entire process. My friend, Koushik Das and I instantly applied and we were recruited. Unfortunately, I was unable to go due to some personal reasons but I was in constant touch with Koushik who was working from the field, to make a written report of all that was happening on ground. Koushik travelled to the BDO office on 10 April.
"“I had to travel to the BDO office in Rajarhat, which was about 22 kilometre from my house. From there, all of us left for the location in two cars, accompanied by police officials.”" - Koushik Das, Photographer
Koushik covered three parts of the city to document the process. He went to South Dum Dum and New Town of Keshtopur and Baguihati. In the car, he travelled along with two poling officers and one micro observer, who were in-charge of the voting process and they covered almost 15 houses a day.
Though the collection of postal ballot started only in April, the list of eligible voters were made a couple of months ago.
"“The candidate has to show his/her voter ID card. The official then provides a pro-valid paper to cast the postal vote.”" - Koushik Das, Photographer
A cardboard structure was set-up at a voter's house at Keshtopur.
An old lady filling a form during the postal voting.
A voter casting his vote in his house.
A voter with a ballot form.
It almost took an hour in every house that Koushik and team visited to get the postal vote registered. The team had to set up a confined space in the corner of a room with a cardboard box, so that the secrecy of the voting process was maintained. Once the citizen voted by placing a tick next to the candidate and party of their choice, the paper was folded and was enclosed in an envelope, which was then sealed by the official.
Theb election was being held during the pandemic, so strict COVID protocols were followed.
"“The citizens were asked to sanitise their hands and their temperature was checked and all of us were wearing masks and maintained social distance the entire time.”" - Koushik Das, Photographer
The entire voting process was smooth. Though the process of postal votes were easy and convenient for citizens. The polling officials were patient and cleared the doubts of citizens about the postal ballot process. However, a few voters were skeptical on whether the secrecy of their vote would be maintained. It took time for the voters to comprehend the system that made it time consuming for the officials to complete the process and make them understand.
Family members of senior citizens were happy that such an initiative was taken by the EC. As it would have been difficult for them travel to the polling booth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(All ‘My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)
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