Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral Officer A. Sreenivas, said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued detailed election coverage guidelines for media personnel in view of the ongoing Assembly General Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, as well as by-elections in various states.
He said that these guidelines are in accordance with the provisions of the Election Rules, 1961. Authorization letters will be issued to the concerned media personnel by the Chief Electoral Officer through the State Information and Public Relations Department, after due verification of media houses.
Sreenivas clarified that any misuse of the authorisation letters will be strictly prohibited. To maintain the secrecy of the voting process, photography and video recording inside the polling booth are strictly prohibited.
He further said that the Commission’s multi-level verification process is aimed at ensuring that only verified and authorised media personnel are granted entry to polling stations and counting centres. This will ensure transparency, security and smooth conduct of the electoral process.
He said that authorized media personnel covering polling day have been included under the category of essential services. Such personnel will be eligible to avail the postal ballot facility through Postal Voting Centres (PVCs).
