Page 182 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Polling sta ons are generally set up inside school These included:
premises. For an elec on being held under COVID-19 a) destruc on of infrastructure in flood-affected areas
condi ons, more than the usual number of school b) enrollment of the returnee migrant workers
buildings were required due to social distancing norms. c) shortage of polling personnel
However, their long closure, on account of the pandemic,
d) increased requirement of vehicles for polling purposes
meant that the schools were in a state of non-
e) sustaining the voter turnout and achieving gender
maintenance. Twin catastrophes of COVID-19 and floods
spawned mul ple challenges. parity therein, and
f) strict compliance of the COVID protocol in elec on
campaigning and polling exercise.

Poll volunteers in far-flung rural areas were the unsung heroes of elections conducted amid the pandemic.
A volunteer marking circles on the ground to ensure safe distance between voters standing in queues, Vaishali district, Bihar

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