Taiwan and South Korea showed the successful conduction of elections in Covid-19 pandemic. Now it is time for India-US to learn from these countries and manage the upcoming Bihar elections without raising the red flag. Amid warm spring in South Korea, voters began lining up early at 14,330 polling stations nationwide, where extensive coronavirus safety measures were in effect.
At one station located on a badminton court in northwestern Seoul's Seodaemun district, one poll worker took the temperature of each person lining up to vote while another administered hand sanitizer. A third passed out disposable plastic gloves. Markings on the floor indicated proper spacing and voting booths were spread out at a distance inside the poll station. The precautionary measures seemed to put most voters at ease. Any voters found to have a temperature above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit or displaying symptoms of respiratory difficulties would be escorted to a separate area to cast a provisional ballot, the NEC said.
Hospitalized patients were eligible to vote by mail, while booths were also established at special quarantine facilities, where patients with mild cases could cast ballots. The high turnout serves as testament to South Korea's strong response to the coronavirus pandemic, as early and aggressive testing, contact tracing and rapid treatment have allowed the country to flatten the curve of new infections.
The government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak also figures to reflect in election results, with the ruling Democratic Party poised to increase its share of seats in the National Assembly. Something the current Bihar government should take advantage of. Some U.S. states have either delayed presidential primaries or changed to mail voting only while countries like Britain and France have postponed their local elections.
While Taiwan has been lauded for its response to the corona virus pandemic. Taiwan has employed country wide policy responses to Covid-19 that are worthy of emulation around the world and adapted measures to fend off spread of the virus during the voting process. As the Bihar 2020 Legislative assembly elections close in, expected to be conducted in the months of October-November, it is a big responsibility on the government to take steps to avoid any increase in the covid cases, given the condition of our nation.
It will be held in three phases with first stage on 28 October 2020, second on 3 November 2020 and third on 7 November 2020. The counting of votes will be held on tenth of November. It will be held to elect 243 members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
These elections will be conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic so the necessary guidelines are issued by the Election Commission of India. This year’s election will consist of both, virtual and physical campaigns. Other than this, EC will also pass the guidelines over limited people to be involved in the rallies. Political parties have already started formulating their strategies and are going well on them. The actor Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic death will play a key role in the upcoming elections.
However corona outbreak appears to have been the dominant issue on most voters' minds, which if taken care, could drastically affect the results.
Written By Bushra Masood