Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission has made special security arrangements for Kannur district for the polls in the wake of concerns raised by political parties. Additional security measures such as webcasting will be made at 1042 polling stations in the district, including around 475 polling stations identified as critical and vulnerable booths.
Chief Electoral Officer E.K. Majhi said micro-observers will be posted at critical and vulnerable polling stations. A civilian government employee will be posted along with central armed police personal to check the identity-cards of voters while entering the polling booth. Voter turnout will be reviewed on an hourly basis, he said, adding immediate verification will be done if more than 120 votes polled in an hour at any polling station.
Those turning up as companion voters for a blind or infirm voters would not be allowed to become companion voter for another voter in order to check malpractices in open voting. Photographs of voters turning up with companion voters would be taken. Details of companions will be recorded in a register and it will be verified the next day to detect malpractice, if any.
