The Election Commission has started preparations to ensure that the voting is not affected by the recent cyclone in West Bengal. The Election Commission says it will ensure that voters in Jalpaiguri city, Maynaguri and other cyclone-affected areas are not deprived of exercising their democratic rights. Even if their voter cards and other documents were damaged or lost in the vandalism that took place on Sunday.
Voter slips can also be downloaded from the Election Commission website
An Election Commission official said on Monday (April 1, 2024) that people will be allowed to vote with voter slips. Voter slips are distributed by political parties a day or two before voting or can also be downloaded from the Election Commission website.
5 people have lost their lives due to the storm in Jalpaiguri
In fact, due to the sudden storm and heavy rain in and around Jalpaiguri city on Sunday, at least 5 people died and more than 200 people became homeless. After this, many people expressed concern about voting in these areas. He said that many people have lost their voter ID cards or such people are facing problems due to various reasons.
Many people's houses and all their belongings were damaged.
Amidst all this, the Election Commission also showed activeness in this. Speaking to news agency PTI, an official said that this is a disaster and emergency. Many people's houses have been damaged and almost everything they owned has been destroyed. There will be many people whose voter ID cards have been damaged or lost in this tragedy. We will ensure that such people can also vote. Such people will be allowed to vote through voter slip.
11 polling stations were also damaged
Let us tell you that in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, voting is to be held on Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri seats on 19 April. We have reports that 11 booths were also damaged in Sunday's storm, the official said. We have enough time to restore everything before the voting date.