AGARTALA, June 01 (TIWN): For the three tier rural bodies (panchayat) election, guidelines for employees assigned for election duty was issued on Sunday by state election commission (SEC). A press communiqué stated a voter on election duty who wishes to vote, would have to approach at least three days before the date of poll in Form 16 for the issue of ballot papers to the returning officer or any officer of the designated constituency.

The communiqué said that a Returning Officer would issue appointment letter to public servant drafted on election duty and reiterate his statutory right to cast vote if he happens to be a voter of a gram panchayat, panchayat samity or Zilla Parishad constituency.

All employees to be engaged assigned for election duty were advised to make advance requests 15 days before the date of poll to facilitate adequate administrative arrangements. Concerned Returning Officers would fix the date and time for taking vote of public servants on election duty with concurrence of the Commission.

About  police personnel  drafted on election duty would be treated at par with public servants on election duty and would be considered entitled to cast vote by person, the guidelines said. In such cases, however the police personnel drafted on election duty would need to apply to the Returning Officer of the concerned Gram Panchayat. The application should be approved by a police authority not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the guidelines added.

The SEC also issued guidelines about composition of the standard polling party. A polling party shall be formed by the Returning Officer for taking EDV of gram panchayats, panchayat samities and ZIlla Parishads, the Commission guidelines said. It added that each polling party would consist of one presiding officer, six polling officers which are extendable by one more polling officer if necessary.

The EDV polling would continue from 10 AM till 4 PM on the date specified for polling. The polling process may continue even after 4 PM for the remaining voters.