Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)

New Delhi, Apr 6: DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, head of ATS Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from Arunachal Pradesh, cast the first vote for the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Five days before the first phase of the elections due on April 11, service voters cast their votes from 10 am Friday.

The service voting started on April 5 at 10.00 am at Lohitpur, Arunachal Pradesh when DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, head of ATS ITBP, cast the first vote from Animal Training School (ATC) ITBP Lohitpur to many constituencies in India.

Commencing on April 11, the Lok Sabha elections will be spread across seven phases and will conclude on May 19. Results will be declared four days later. Ballot papers have been sent out to Uttrakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, Gujarat, Bengaluru and other places.

Those who belong to the the Armed Forces of India, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, ITBF; GREF in Border Road Organisation (BRD), Central Industrial Security Force; or is employed under the Indian government in a post outside the country or is a member of the Armed Police Force of a state and serving outside the state can cast their vote as a service voter. It is estimated ariund 30 lac service voters will cast their votes this election.

A service voter can cast his/her vote by recording their vote and sealing the cover in the postal ballot sent by the returning officer of the constituency. After signing Form 13A the Commanding Officer of the unit will attest the voter’s signature which needs to be given to the Returning Officer by post or messenger.