40 senior citizens cast votes in Graduates Constituency elections from home;

Aurangabad, Nov 25:

Nandkishor Palaskar, a senior citizen from N-1, exercised his franchise in Marathwada Graduates Constituency elections on Wednesday under ‘Polling booths at doorstep’ initiative.

The State Election Commission has asked returning officers to allow senior citizens and physically challenged persons to cast a vote at their home by maintaining confidentiality. Nandkishor Palaskar is the first person in the district to cast a vote today. Nayab tehsildar, along with employees, went to senior citizens house to get their voting done. He was informed in advanced about voting.

The postal ballot form was delivered to them a few days before the visit of the polling teams.

Deputy collector Mandar Vaidya said that three teams deployed in the city for this purpose. After voting ballot paper was put in ballot box from the packet in camera. Nayab tehsildar Ratansingh Salok, who heads a team, said voting of 40 senior citizens was done at their home on the first day today.“There are 90 voters above 80-years age.

The district also has physically challenge voters. The process of creating awareness among them and allowing them to vote has launched. The voting being conduct at their home as per the instructions of Election Commission. The cameraman, police personnel, booth level officer and other employees were deployed for their voting. The vote is sealed in camera,” he said.

Revannath Tathe, Yogita Khatavkar are leading two separate teams which have collected votes of senior citizens and physically challenged persons.Salok said that some voters were surprised when the team reached their home for the voting. “A few voters are bed-ridden.

They may not have come for voting due to COVID. They got the voting opportunity when administrative machinery reached their home,” he asserted. Most of the voters expressed their gratitude to the administration.