New Delhi: In view of the dismal response to postal ballots, election authorities in Delhi has issued ‘election certificates’ for the first time to thousands of officials deputed for poll duty on 7 May to enable them vote in the same booths where they are scheduled to perform their duty.

“This is for the first time that the polling duty staff who are deployed in the booths of their constituency will be allowed to exercise their franchise on V-day,” Delhi Chief Election Officer Satbir Silas Bedi told PTI here.

This would also help increase in polling percentage, she said.

Generally moved out of their constituency for election duty, the poll officials often miss their chance to vote. Though, they are provided with an option of postal voting, their interest in this method had been found missing.

“We have ensured that, as far as possible, the staff are deployed in the nearby polling booths of their assembly area,” Bedi said.

Under the initiative, certificates have been issued to government employees deputed for poll duty outside of their assembly constituency but inside their parliamentary seat, so that they can vote in their duty station by showing the document, she said.