AP Postal Ballots: 3.03 lakh votes cast so far; CEO warns govt employees on cash-for-vote

Amaravati: AP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena said that as many as 3.03 lakh votes have been cast through postal ballot at facilitation centres across the state till Tuesday.

The postal ballot facility began in the state on May 3 in several districts. The facility is for government employees performing election duties for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to the media at the Secretariat in Velagapudi on Tuesday, Meena cautioned employees against accepting bribes in exchange for their votes through the postal ballot facility.

Data on home voting and postal ballots

The CEO stated that as many as 4,30,000 voters – government workers assigned to poll duties and voters (above 85 years of age and PwDs) who opted to vote from home – enrolled for postal ballot facility in the state for the elections. The total number includes 28,000 voters who opted for home voting.

In all, 3.03 lakh voters out of 4.30 lakhs exercised their right to franchise using the postal ballot facility and home voting in the state; around 70 per cent of total registrations, he said.

Date for postal ballot voting

The CEO said that the postal ballot facility can be extended till May 9.

“I am appealing to all those employees who have not been able to vote previously due to reasons such as delay in receiving Form 12 or appointment orders. They should go to their own Assembly constituency and visit the facilitation centres on Tuesday or Wednesday to cast their votes through the postal ballot facility.”

CEO warns of stern action against cash-for-vote

Meena said that the Election Commission (EC) came to know that money was being given to employees casting their votes through the postal ballot facility.

“Almost 90 per cent of the government employees deployed on the poll duties utilised the postal ballot facility. However, the employees accepting money for casting their vote is a bad sign for the postal ballot facility. In Tadepalligudem of West Godavari district, four people were arrested for distributing money to employees at the facilitation centres. A case was filed against them,” he said.

Meena also said that a police constable with a list of government employees was caught for allegedly distributing money among postal ballot voters. The constable was suspended.

In the Visakhapatnam East constituency, two persons were held and cash meant for distributing to the employees availing the postal ballot facility was seized. Similarly, in Ongole, money was being distributed to a select list of employees through UPI transactions as a bribe, he added.

The CEO said that instructions were given to the Prakasam SP Garud Sumit Sunil to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a few employees confessed to giving bribes to voters after verifying their bank transactions. The remaining denied the allegations.

“This is my appeal and warning to employees taking money as a bribe to cast their votes through the postal ballot facility. All employees found taking or giving bribes through call recording data (CDR) and bank transactions will be suspended. Apart from that, cases will be filed against them,” he said.

EC regarding the disbursement of welfare

Reacting to the EC’s directions on the disbursement of input subsidy for farmers and the Vidya Deevena scheme to the students, Meena said that the EC has suggested the government disburse the welfare after the May 13 elections or after the completion of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

After going through the various petitions filed by the government and the opposition regarding the disbursement of State aid, he said that the EC has asked for more details about the schemes, modalities and disbursement modes and periods for the beneficiaries, especially for Vidya Deevena, YSR Cheyuta and Aasara schemes.