Agartala (Tripura) [India], April 27 : The parliamentary constituency of Tripura East (ST) concluded its polling process peacefully today, with two polling stations recording voter turnouts exceeding 100 per cent, an occurrence explained by the use of Election Duty Certificates (EDC), said a statement by Chief Election Officer, Tripura, on Friday.
Booth No. 29, located in the 25-Khowi Legislative Assembly, reported a voter turnout of 100.84 per cent. Out of the registered 479 voters at this station, 461 cast their votes. An additional 22 votes were cast using EDC, bringing the total votes to 483.
Similarly, at Booth No. 67 in the 47-Ambasa Assembly Constituency, a remarkable turnout of 121.97 per cent was noted. From a total of 173 registered voters, 159 voted in person, and 62 used the EDC to cast their vote, totalling 211 votes.
The Election Commission of India allows government servants engaged in poll duties to vote at any polling station within the parliamentary constituency, other than their own, using an Election Duty Certificate.
This measure ensures that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process, even if they are stationed away from their designated polling locations due to official duties.
Notably, officers on polling duty have two options for voting: the EDC or voting by postal ballot.
The Election Commission (EC) provides a form for officers on polling duty to fill out. Upon completion, they receive an EDC. An officer with an EDC can vote at any polling booth in their constituency, not necessarily the one where their name is listed.
Alternatively, officers on polling duty can opt for postal voting. They fill out a provided form, which is then collected and sorted by constituency. The segregated forms are subsequently handed over to the Returning Officer (RO) of the respective constituency.
The high voting percentages at these two booths have been attributed to the significant number of votes cast through EDCs. The peaceful conduct of the polls, along with the enthusiastic participation of voters, highlights the robustness and inclusivity of the democratic process in the region.