VIJAYAWADA, MAY 7    :    Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena on Tuesday said that more than 3.03 lakh voters have availed the postal ballot facility so far in the state.

Talking to the media here, he said that 4.30 lakh voters applied for permission to avail postal ballot facility of which 3.03 lakh voters (70%) have availed the postal ballot facility so far.

Of the 4.30 lakh voters applied for permission to avail postal ballot facility, 3.20 lakh voters are government employees, over 40,000 are police personnel and 31,000 voters come under essential services category.

As many as 28,000 voters are exercising their franchise under the home voting category. Those who could not avail postal ballot facility were permitted to cast their vote at the facilitation centres on May 7 and 8, Meena added.

The CEO warned of stringent action, if the government employees yielded to the temptation of the candidates. He regretted that allegations were being made that employees were taking cash to cast their vote.

Meena said that the home voting began for senior citizens and differently-abled voters on May 3 in some districts and May 4 in other districts, adding that he had personally inspected the postal ballot facilitation centre in Vizianagaram district.

He stated that four persons were arrested when they were distributing money in Tadepalligudem and an FIR was also registered against them. A constable was suspended in Anantapur when he was roaming holding the voters list of government employees. Since VVIP was visiting the state today and tomorrow, orders were issued to the officials to permit the government employees to cast their vote through postal ballot on May 9 also.(UNI)