‘Election staff must exercise utmost caution for local body polls’

Nellore: Election personnel must execute their duties with thorough procedural knowledge and utmost vigilance to ensure free, fair, and transparent local body elections, stated Special Deputy Collector Keshavardhan Reddy and District Educational Officer Balaji Rao on Monday.

Addressing a training program for Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) at Sri Venkateswara Kasturba College, officials issued detailed instructions regarding polling operations and materials. Keshavardhan Reddy emphasized that because local body polls are conducted via paper ballots rather than Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), polling staff must exercise heightened caution.

He highlighted the necessity of mastering ballot paper handling, folding techniques, box insertion, and secure sealing following the close of voting.

To facilitate smooth operations, an artificial intelligence-generated six-minute instruction video and soft copies of the Presiding Officer’s handbook have been distributed in official communications groups.

Staff were advised to practice filling out dummy formats and clarify doubts during training sessions.

District Educational Officer Balaji Rao warned that election duty is strictly mandatory, noting that unauthorized absence or negligence would invite severe legal action. He announced that the final RO-level training session and physical handbook distribution will take place on October 24, when polling station team allocations will be finalized.

With polling officially scheduled for October 28, officials urged staff to maintain punctuality and seamless coordination, especially at high-voter polling stations where voting hours may extend.

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