oVERN

NME
Office Tel: +91 80 23354039
+91 80 23354085
E-mail: com-hfws@karnataka.gov.in
ARNAT
COMMISSIONERATE
Health &Family Welfare Services

Date:19.11.2021
No:NVBDCP/EST7A/Covid19/2020-21

CIRCULAR
Subject: Guidelines for conduct of MLC elections during Covid- 19 in Karnataka

Regarding 18.11.2021
Reference: 1. Govt Order No: RD 95 TNR 2021, Dated:
2. Proceedings of 134 meeting of State Covid 19 Technical Advisory
Committee, Dated: 17.11.2021.

elections issued by the

guidelines for conduct of elections/ bye
are
Broad
Election Commission of India, Document No: 324.6. EPS. OT.001.2020, Dated:
the following guidelines for
August 2020, In view of the current COVID situation
strict adherence in the State of
conducting MLC elections are issued herewith, for
Karnataka.
DURING ENTIRE
1. GENERAL GUIDELINES TO BE FOLLOWED
ELECTIOON PROCESSES FOR ALL PERSONS
election related activity.
1) Every person shall wear face mask during every
election purposes:
2) At the entry of hall/ room/ premises used for
Thermal Scanning of all persons shall be carried out;
(a)
available.
(6) Sanitizer, soap and water shall be made
maintained at all times.
3)Physical distancing of 1 Mtrs (3 Feet) shall be
be identified and utilized to ensure
4) As far as practicable, large halls should
physical distancing norms.
5) Adequate number of vehicles shall be mobilized for movement of polling

personnel, security personnel to ensure compliance

of COVID-19 guidelines.
2. Nomination process
Number of persons to accompany the candidate for submission of nomination
shall be restricted to four
Number of vehicles for the purposes of nomination is restricted to three
to perform the
Returning Officer's chamber should have sufficient space
functions of nomination, scrutiny and symbol allocation following physical
distancing norms
Returning Officer should allot staggered time in advance to prospective
candidate
Large space for waiting for candidate(s) should be arranged.

Page 1 of 3

Sth Floor, Arogya Soudha, Magadi Road, Bangalore - 560023.

 to be taken for the submission of nomination form and
All steps required
provisions contained in the
affidavit shall continue to operate as per the
Representation ofthe People Act, 1951
rallies
3. Campaigning: Gathering up people shall be permitted for public
to 500
behaviour and guidelines of
etc., again strictly adhering to Covid appropriate
,

ECI. Only fully vaccinated people with Covid 19 vaccine

will be allowed to

participate in such meetings/ rallies.

4. At the polling stations
large halls with
The polling stations shall be well naturally ventilated,
windows and doors
disinfected using 1% sodium
The centre including the rest rooms, etc. shall be
hypochlorite solution the previous day
At the entry
- All shall be screened for fever using thermal scanner

running nose, throat pain,

-All shall be checked for symptoms of cough, cold,
breathing problems, etc.
above mentioned Covid 19 symptoms
shall be
Those found having fever or

sent to the nearest health centres for medical advice

face maskS correctly covering the nose and mouth
A l l shall compulsorily wear

all through out

feet shall be maintained
meter/3
A minimum physical distance of one
floor
throughout and to ensure compliance it shall be marked on the
the station
Hand sanitizer shall be applied to the hands of persons entering
least one dose of Covid-19 vaccination
A l l persons should have received at

5. Polling officials
doses of Covid -19 vaccination
A l l should have received two
of Covid -19
be asymptomatic and free from any symptoms
All shall
and mouth
All shall compulsorily wear face masks correctly covering the nose

all through out

meter / 3 feet shall be maintained
A minimum physical distance of one
throughout
hour to the hands during the
.Hand sanitizer shall be applied frequently/every
process of polling
like diabetes( sugar)
Persons over 50 years of age and those with comorbidities
hypertension(BP) may wear additionally face shield

Page 2 of 3
 6. Voters
The broad guidelines issued by Election Commission of India vide document
No: 324.6.EPS.OT.001. Aug 2020, is attached as Annexure 1.

The District Health Officer of the concerned district will be District Nodal
officer to enforce Covid appropriate behaviour during the entire election process and
whole exercise shall be completely done under the supervision of nodal officer.

COMMISSIONER
Health &FW Services

To,
1. The Regional Commissioners, Bengaluru, Mysore, Kalaburagi & Belagavi
2. The Deputy Commissioners, All Districts
3. The Chief Executive Officers, Zilla Panchayath, All Districts
4. The District Health Officer - All Districts

Copy for information to:

1. The Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka
2. The Additional Chief Secretary, Dept. of Health & Family Welfare
3. The Secretary, State Election Commission, Karnataka.
4. The Chief Election Officer,Karnataka
5. The Special Commissioner, BBMP
6. Dr. Vishal R, IAS, State Nodal Officer
7. The Director, Health & Family Welfare Services

Page 3 of 3
Nodal

BROADGUIDELINES FOR
CONDUCT OF
GENERAL ELECTIONS
BYE-ELECTIONS
DURING COVID-19
AUGUST2020
Document No. 324.6.EPS.OT.001.2020

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI-11000

Wo voterto be left behind

BROAD GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT
OF GENERAL ELECTIONS/
BYE-ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19
After onset of COVID-19
Health and Family
pandemic in India, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of
Welfare(MOHFW) have been issuing guidelines from time to time. In their
latest circular dated 29th
July, 2020, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued
lines/directives to be foliowed countrywide. Similarly, comprehensive guide-
has also issued SOP on Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
disinfection, sanitization, and prevention for containing COVID-19.
The Commission on 17th July, 2020,
sought views/suggestions of National/state
Political Parties till 31t July, 2020, which on
request, Commission further extended the period
till 1th August, 2020.The Commission has
considered the
various Political Parties, and Chief Electoral 0ficers of views/suggestions
received from
States/UTs on election campaign
and public meetings.

Keeping in view the above, following broad guidelines have been framed with
respect to key activities of the conduct of elections, considering the upcoming General
Elections and bye-elections in various states/UTs
during the period of COVID-19
SI. No Gudelines to befollowed
1. GENERALGUIDELINESTO BEFOLLOWED DURING ENTIRE ELECTION PROCESSES
FOR ALL PERSONS
1) Every person shall wear face mask during every election related activity.
2) At the entry of hal/ room/ premises used for election purposes:

(a) Thermal Scanning of all persons shall be carried out

(b) Sanitizer, soap and water shall be made available.
3) Social distancing shall be maintained as per the extant CovID-19
guidelines ofthe State Govt and Ministry of Home Affairs
4) Asfar as practicable, large halls should be identified and utilized to ensure
social distancing norms.
5) Adequate number ofvehicles shall be mobilized for movement of poling
personnel, security personnel to ensure compliance of covID-19
guidelines.

Guidelinss for Conduct of Gonetal Electlon/Byu election during coviD-19

S NO Guldelines tobefollowed
2. NODAL HEALTH OFFICER
Nodal Health Ofñicer shall be
designated for the State, the District and th8
ASsembly Constituency to oversee CoVID-19 related arrangements and,
preventive measures during entire electoral
3.
process.
***************************sasssanans************************************************** ************************* *** *
EVMs/VVPATs
1) First 8 Second randomization
and preparation of EVMs/VVPATS shall be
done in large halls.
2) Sanitizers shall be
provided in sufficient quantity for use during the
process.
3 Gloves shall be made
available to each official handling EVM/VVPAT.
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
1) As far as practicable, training
of election officials will be
decentralized manner at large halls. organized in
2) Training for election
officials may be organized through online mode.
3) All PPTS, training
materials, relevant
question papers for self-assessmentdocuments, topic wise video clips,
that any election official can may be uploaded in app/ portal so
access it as per
requirement
4) Suficientnumber of
Polling/Counting/Poll related staffs shall
keptin reserve by DEO0/R0, to replace in case any also be
displays COvID-19 symptoms.
* *************
polling personnel
5. NOMINATION PROCESS
1. Following additional options to facilitate online mode are
11 Nomination form hereby provided
will also be available online on the
DEO. An intending candidate website of CEO/
may
taken for submitting before the fl in it online and
its print may be
Returning
(Rule-3 of Conduct of Election Rules 1961). Ofñicer as
specified in Form-1
21 Affidavit may also be filled in online on the
orint can be taken and after notarization it website of CEO/DEO and its
the nomination form before the Returning may be submitted along with
officer
a) Candidate may deposit security money through
designated platform. HOWever, a Candidate will online mode at the
option of deposit in cash in the treasury. continue to have the

General ElectionBye
electlon during coVID-19
Conduct of
Guidelines for

2
Sl. No. Guidelnes to be followen
4 Candidate may have the option to seek his/her elector
the purpose of certification for
nomination online.
I. Further, Commission has
directed:
1) Number of persons to accompany candidate for
submission of Nomination
is restricted to two (2).
(This is in supersession of existing Para 5.8.1 of
Returning 0fficers Handbook 2019)
2) Number of vehicles for the purposes of nomination is restricted
to two
(2). (This isin supersession of existing Para 5.8.1 of
Returning ofñicer's
Handbook 2019)
3) Returning officer's chamber should have sufficient
the functions of nomination, space to perform
scrutiny symbol allocation following
and
SOcial distancing norms
4) Returning Officer should allot staggered time in advance to prospective
candidates.
5) Large space for waiting for candidate(s) should be
arranged.
6) All steps required to be taken for the submission of
and affidavit shall continue to nomination form
operate as per the provisions contained
in the Representation of the
*****

People Act, 1951.

6. ELECTION MATERIAL
Election Material Kit will be prepared in a
spacious and sufñiciently large hall
following all safety, sanitation and social distancing measures.
DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION OF ELECTION MATERIAL
1) Large halls/spaces should be identified for
election material. distribution/collection of
2) As far as
practicable, it should be organized in decentralized manner.
3) Prior staggered time should be allocated to the
collection of election poling teams for distribution/
-
material.
8. TIMING OF 3d RANDOMIZATION:
Timing for 3d randomization of polling staff be
hrs in order to increased from 24 hrs to 72
avoid large gathering of polling staff at dispatch centres.
(This is in supersession of ECINo.
2008) 464/Inst/2008/EPS dated 19th September,
Guidetines lor conduct of General Election/aye
election during coViD-19
S No Guldellnes to befollowed
9. NO. OF ELECTORS IN POLLING STATION
There shall be maximum 1000 electors
instead of 1500 electors in a polling
station
(Commission's Instruction No.23/SEC/2020-ERS, dated 23td
10. July, 2020)
POLLING STATION ARRANGEMENTS
Commission has issued detailed
instructions for
at each
poling station. Now, in view of COVID-19 assured minimum facilities
facilities/steps should be taken: situation, following additional
1) Mandatory sanitization of
Polling station, preferably, aday before the
2) Thermal Scanner at the poll.
entry point of every poling
3) Thermal Checking of station location.
Polling station, eithervoters entry point of polling station
at
by polling staff or
Para Medical staff orlocation/
Asha worker.
4) If temperature is above the
will be checked twice and set norms of MoHFW at first
with
if it remains, reading, then it
then the elector shall
token/certificate
hour of polI. At the last
and will be asked to
come
be provided
for voting at the last
hour of poll, such
voting, strictly following COVID-19 electors shall be
related preventive facilitated
5) Help Desk for measures.
distribution of token
that they do not wait in the to the voters of
first come first
queue. basis so
6) Marker to demonstrate social
7) Earmarking circle for
distancing for queue.
15-20 persons of 2
standing in the queue depending yards (6 feet) distance
on the for voters
be three queues each, for availability space. There shall
male, female, and of
8) The services of BLOS, PwD/ Senior citizen
Volunteers etc may be voters
regulate social distancing norms engaged to monitor and
strictly
9 One shaded
waiting areas with chairs, dari etc.
and female will be
separately, within the polir
can participate in voting without station premisesprovided, for male
safety concerns. so that
voters
10) Wherever possible, Bootn APP Snain
de used at
the polling
11) Soap and Water shall be provided at the statinn.
station. entry/exit point of every
polling
12) Sanitizer should be provided at the
entry/exit point of every
sidelines for Contbc of BeneraI EIEClion/ Bye ejection during CoV0-19
polling station
SNo Guualines tobefollowed
13) Face Masks in reserves for those electors who are not carrying the mask
will be kept
14) Awareness posters on COvID-19 should be displayed at visible locations
15) Sitting arrangement in polling station for the polling personnel and
polling agents shall be made as per the norms of social distancing.

16) f polling agent or counting agent is having temperature above the

prescribed limit, then their reliever shall be allowed by Presiding officer,
who will keep a record accordingly.

17) During the process ofidentification of voter,the voters willrequire to

lowerthe facemask for identiication, when required.
18) At any given time, only1(one)voter shall be allowed to stand in front of
each polling ofñicial maintaining social distance.
19) Hand gloves shali be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter
register andpressing button ofEVM for voting
20) Sanitizers shall be kept inside the booth at appropriate locations with
clear direction for the use by voterS

21) COVID-19 patients who0are quarantined will be allowed to cast their vote
at the last hour of the poll day at their respective Polling Stations, under
the supervision of health authorities, strictly following CoVID-19 related
preventive measures. Sector Magistrates shall coordinate this in their
allocated polling stations.
22) In case of those voters who are residing in the area notifñed as containment
Z0ne, guidelines shall be issued separately.
11. KIT FOR POLLING OFFICER
The following items shall be provided to every polling oficial and security
personnel (0other than those where PPES are needed) in addition to other
prescribed items:

Mask
.Sanitizer
ii. Face-Shield
iv. Gloves

Guldelines for Conduct of General Elettion/Bye electlon during COvID-19

 Sl. No. Guidellnes tobe followed
12. POSTAL BALLOT
1) 0ption of Postal Ballot facility has been extended to the electors of
following categories:
a. Electors, who are marked as Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
b. ElectorS above the age of 80 years
C. Electors employed in notified Essential services
d. Electors who are coviD-19 positive/suspect and in quarantine (home/
institutional)
2) Guidelines for each of these categories are being issued separately.
13 CAMPAIGN BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES/cONTESTING CANDIDATES

1) Doorto Door Campaign- subjectto any other restriction(s) including extant

COVID-19 guidelines, a group of 5 (five) persons including candidates,
excluding security personnel, if any, is allowed to do door to door
campaigning
2) Road Shows-The convoy of vehicles should be broken after every 5 (five)
vehicles instead of 10 vehicles (exciluding the security vehicles, if any). The
interval between two sets of convoy of vehicles should be half an hour
instead of gap of 100 meters. (in supersession of Para 5.8.1of
officer's Handbook 2019)
Returning

3 Election Meetings-Public gatherings/ rallies may be conducted

subject to
adherence to extant covID-19 guidelines. District Election officer should
take following steps for this purpose
la) District Election Officer should, in advance, identify dedicated
for public gathering with clearly marked
grounds
Entry/Exit points.
(b) In all such identiñed grounds, the District Election
ofñcer should, in
advance, put markers to ensure social distancing norms the
attendees.
by
(c) Nodal District Health Ofhcer should be involved in
the
ensure that all CoviD-19 related guidelines are adheredprocess
to
to by all
concerned in the district.
d District Election orficer and District
Superintendent of
ensute that the number of attendees does not Police should
exceed
prescribed by state Disaster Management Authority for the limit
public
gatheringsS
okevipn durlay tovA 9 spsieg
Buldellnes loi
Comduct olWbnplsltloEtibu/Bye
**************************** ************************************************************************************************

CU C

********ess ****a aswm srdenanmeseu

E ****
 Sl. No Guldelinestobe folowed
6) For counting of Postal Ballots, additional number of AROS may be required.
if required, Postal Ballots may also be counted in a separate hall under the
Supervision of the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning officer.
********eao*e**e mema mrvwenwawwonmm* ********eeapnotos***********o**es***********************ss**********

Based on these broad guidelines, a

detailed COVID-19 related comprehensive plan will
be prepared at the State level,
taking local conditions into account. In case of General
Elections, three-layer plan will be prepared in consultation with the concerned Nodal
Health Officers: AC, District, and State levels. In case
be prepared at the District and AC levels in
of bye-elections, the plans will
consultation withrespective Nodal Health
officers. In case, more than one district is
involved, such plans will be prepared by the
Returning officer of the Parliamentary Constituency in coordination with the
wherever required. DEOS,