Round-o-clock facilitation for collection of postal ballots during Delhi State elections 2015 Department of Posts Delhi Circle 1

The genesis Meeting between CEO Delhi and Department of Posts, Delhi Circle on 8/2/15 at around 1600hrs Asked to formulate a plan for according a final opportunity for posting postal ballots till after the usual cut-off date i.e. close of business hours on 9/2/2015 2

The scheme Aim: – Final opportunity to cast vote using postal ballots through a dedicated setup at post offices It envisaged – Creating a mechanism for round o clock collection and timely delivery of postal ballots 3

Implementation – Identified nine post offices & operationalized special counters for collection of Postal ballots on the night of (upto 0600 hrs ) – Details of nodal officers including their contact numbers were publicised for round O Clock support to electors using postal ballot. – Electors were advised to hand over their postal ballots in these offices upto 0600 hrs on

…Implementation – Conducted an exclusive drive for collecting ballots posted in more than 1300 letter boxes across Delhi by ensuring collection (clearance) from Letter Boxes ‘thrice’ on – Special delivery arrangement for all the postal ballots by deploying mail vehicles and personnel from each identified Post Office. Nine vehicles with dedicated officials collected the ballots from these Post Offices at 0615 hrs & delivered them to the concerned returning officers before 0800 hrs on

Backend support The operational arrangement was supported by deployment of a team of officials and specially created logistics (for delivery). A dedicated team of some 5 dozen officials were assigned to this project. Nodal officer, PMG (Operations) & CPMG, Delhi monitored the project continuously 6

Upshot It provided, for the first time in India, an unprecedented opportunity to electors to cast vote using postal ballots upto two hours before start of counting of votes. The 24 hour operational arrangement at Post Offices aided by dedicated logistical support for delivery resulted in a seamless and transparent system of collection and timely delivery of postal ballots. Entire arrangement was well coordinated and monitored and no complaint was received on this accord. 7

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