Poll duty: EC permission sought to deploy teachers

BENGALURU: With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the dates for the assembly polls in Karnataka, the District Election Officer (DEO), for the first time, has written to the ECI, seeking permission to rope in the staff of private schools and colleges for poll duty.

The Assembly polls will be held in the state on May 12. In all, 9,093 polling stations will be set up for the 28 Assembly constituencies in the city. As many as 54,400 polling personnel will be required, said BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad, who is also the District Election Officer (DEO).

He said on Tuesday that the DEO's office has received names of around 35,000 government officials and the data entry work has already begun. 

A list of personnel from public sector undertakings, like HAL, ITI and BEL, has been sought. Since the polls are held in a single phase, there may be a possibility of shortage personnel. That is the reason a request has been placed before the EC to rope in staff of private schools and colleges, he said. 

Of the 54,400 personnel, 32,640 are polling officers and, 10,880 are presiding officers and 10,880 are assistant presiding officers. Five poll officials will be deputed at each polling station as against four in the previous elections, as the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) is being introduced this year, he said.

As per EC guidelines, auxiliary polling stations have to be set up at places where over 1,400 voters are listed. 

"We have asked the EC to look at the voting trends in the 806 auxiliary polling stations during the previous Assembly and Parliamentary elections. If the voter turnout is around 50%, then there may not be a need for an auxiliary polling station, which will also reduce the number of poll personnel required," he said.

Deputy Commissioner (Urban) Dayanand has ensured that all advertisement materials that are political in nature are removed across his jurisdiction.