Surveys in times of pandemic: Bihar’s most expensive elections need less time, more resources

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with MP CM Sushil Kumar Modi (left) at a press conference in Patna on Tuesday, October 6 (Photo: PTI)

With 7.3 crore voters, the upcoming Legislative Assembly election in Bihar is not only the first major election exercise in India since the Covid-19 outbreak, but the largest in the world so far.

The Election Commission’s decision to hold elections on time amid a raging pandemic has triggered a series of firsts for the state.

For starters, this will be the shortest Assembly election in 15 years. Voting will take place in just three phases, as opposed to five in 2015 and four in 2005. In 2000, Bihar and Jharkhand were one state.

To maintain social distancing, the Commission has limited the maximum number of voters per booth to 1,000, down from 1,500 in 2015. This has led to a 60% increase in the number of polling stations, from 65,367 in 2015 to 1,06,526 . More voting centers means more voting staff. According to an EC official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Commission will have to delegate approximately 2 lakhs of staff this time.

But holding elections during a pandemic will require more than just increasing polling stations and voting staff. Mandatory COVID-related precautions will make this Bihar Assembly election the most expensive for the state, according to sources. For voting staff of approximately 7.6 lakh, the Commission will need the same number of masks, bottles of hand sanitizer, pair of gloves and face shields. The same things will be provided to security personnel of about 6.2 lakh (including central and state police forces) to be deployed. Gloves must also be given to each of the state’s 7,21,00,000 voters.

Talking to The Indian ExpressBihar CEO HR Srinivasa said he did not wish to disclose the estimated spending in the Bihar surveys, especially new spending due to COVID-19 precautions. “I can only say that an adequate arrangement of funds has been made to cover the additional expenses,” he said.

Read also | Explained: Why BJP Rush To Pacify Nitish Kumar May Bring Only Temporary Relief In Bihar NDA

The election campaign is expected to be moderate this time, with the EC imposing limits and restrictions to avoid overcrowding. For example, it has limited the campaign squad size to five people for door-to-door visits and only allowed five cars, instead of 10, in a candidate’s convoy for road shows. Only two people will accompany a candidate to present their nomination papers.

Although the EC has allowed physical campaigns to be carried out for candidates and political parties, following the rules of social distancing, it has said that the maximum number of attendees at a demonstration or meeting should not “exceed the limit prescribed by the State Management Authority of Disasters for public gatherings “.

On voting day, it will be mandatory to control the masks and temperature of all voters at the voting table. COVID-19 patients and suspected cases will be able to vote in the “last hour of voting day.” Others will be required to wear gloves before pressing the button on the EVM.

COVID-related precautions

1. Number of people accompanying the candidate for the presentation of candidatures restricted to 2 instead of 5
2. The number of vehicles for nomination purposes is limited to 2 instead of 3
3. Number of people, including the candidate, for the door-to-door campaign limited to 5
4. Convoy of vehicles for road shows that will break every 5 vehicles instead of 10 (excluding security vehicles, if any) The interval between two sets of convoys will be half an hour instead of a space of 100 meters.
5. Masks, disinfectants, thermal scanners, gloves, face shields and PPE kits to be used during the electoral process. Rules of social distancing to follow.

The day of the vote:

1. All polling stations must be compulsorily disinfected
2. All voters must check their temperature when entering. If the voter has a fever, they will be given a token and asked to return at the last hour of voting, when they can vote with all the precautions established.
3. Markers at polling stations to demonstrate social distancing in queues
4. Disinfectants provided at entry and exit points
5. Masks in reserve for voters who do not wear them
6. Voters will receive gloves to sign the register and press the button on the voting machines.

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