The Election Commission on Tuesday decided to set up a committee to improve the participation of migrant voters and reach out to electors in urban as well as remote areas.
The commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and including Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey, discussed Mr. Kumar’s recent trek to a remote polling station in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Recognising the efforts of polling officials who travel up to three days in advance to the 440 remote polling stations in the country, the EC decided to double the remuneration for such polling parties. The EC said, in a statement, that the Chief Electoral Officers of States and Union Territories would identify such polling stations for enhanced remuneration. The EC also decided to work on new water and shock-proof backpacks or cases to carry EVMs and VVPATs in difficult terrains.
The EC decided to form a committee to look into the issues faced by migrant workers when it comes to exercising their franchise.
