A total of 9070 persons with disabilities and senior citizens above 80 years of age in Belgaum district will exercise their right to vote at home and preparations have been made in this regard. District Election Officer and Collector Nitesh Patil informed that the team of officials appointed in the respective constituencies will go door to door and collect votes according to the Election Commission’s guide list from April 29 to May 1.
A meeting of representatives of various political parties was held in the hall of the Collectorate on Thursday morning. On this occasion, the Collector was speaking from the chair. 9070 people in 18 assembly constituencies of the district will exercise their right to vote at home and they have agreed to do so. Therefore, it will be mandatory for them to vote from home. Collector Patil said that they will not be able to vote during the polls to be held on May 10.
Among those voting from home, the number of senior voters above 80 years is 7362 and disabled voters are 1708. Out of these, the number of assembly constituencies above 80 years is as follows. Nipani 559, Chikodi-Sadalga 388, Athani 299, Kagawad 365, Kudchi 211, Raibag 314, Hukkeri 151, Arbhavi 535, Gokak 351, Yamakanmardi 183, Belgaum North 542, Belgaum South 795, Belgaum Rural 350, Khanapur 483, Kittur 347. Bailhongal 704, Saundatti-Yalma 407, and Ramdurg 378. Constituency wise number of differently abled voters are as follows. Nipani 90, Chikodi-Sadalga 91, Athani 52, Kagwad 54, Kudchi 50, Raibag 85, Hukkeri 92, Arbhavi 14, Gokak 105, Yamakanmardi 97, Belgaum North 55, Belgaum South 88, Belgaum Rural 67, Khanapur 174, Kittur 143, Bailhongal 148, Saundatti-Yallama 77, and Ramdurg 126.
For the said constituency, a team of about 20 people each will go door to door for three consecutive days to collect votes. 9070 people who want to vote from home have to first fill the 12D sample application and submit it. Voting will be done by going to the homes of those who filed the said application. Representatives of political parties will be allowed to be present during this voting process. But for that, it is necessary for the concerned political party to give the information in writing about their representative who will be present at the time of polling.
Voters should not be baited for any reason. Also, Collector Nitesh Patil explained that confidentiality should be observed in the matter of voting. Upper Collector K. T. Shantala, Chief Nodal Officer Parashuram Dudgunty and other concerned officers and representatives of various political parties attended the meeting.
