AGARTALA, Dec 2 (TIWN): Amidst tight security postal ballot for the Municipal election which is scheduled to be held on December 9, began at Umakanta School on Wednesday morning.Vote cast through postal ballot for about 4000 polling personnel, those who are engaged in polling work cast their vote from Wednesday. Vote cast through postal ballot for those who are engaged in the polling work, including Police officers and teachers of state schools will cast their postal ballot from Wednesday. The postal ballot will continue till December 4.Police officials, TSR, teachers and government officials who are engaged in the election duty are able to cast their vote through postal ballot on December 2 and will continue till December 4. Rest of the common people will cast their vote on December 9. It is to be mentioned here that special voters who wish to use the postal ballot will have to apply to the returning officer at least 10 days before the date of polling, after which the returning officer must send him or her ballot papers. Huge security is deployed to conduct smooth and fare election in the state. Besides, troops of BSF and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) are intensifying joint operation including patrolling along the border and keeping a close vigil on the movements of people along the border, said the source.

For those in preventive detention, it is the duty of the government to inform the returning officer of their names, addresses and electoral roll numbers, along with the place where they are being kept in detention. Voters on election duty have to apply for the postal ballot facility, normally at least seven days before the poll.The poll panel has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the polling process which began at 10 AM and will continue till 4 PM.

It is to be mentioned here that the postal ballot will continue till December 4 and other will usually cast vote on December 9.

At least twenty companies of CRPF jawans are deployed to gaurd strong rooms where EVMs are to be kept.  There is no lack of security personnel for the civic elections. CRPF and TSR jawans would keep a strict vigil to ensure error free election.

However, the Municipal election will held on December 9 and the counting will be conducted on December 12.

As per the reports, counting of votes for 5 lakhs, 37 thousand, and 986 voters would take place on December 12.  Among them 2 lakhs, 69 thousands and 214 are male voters and 2 lakhs, 68 thousands and 754 are female voters.

The final photo voter lists for the ensuing Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC), 13 Municipal Councils and 6 Nagar Panchayats is announced by state election department. Besides, the names of SDM and BDOs appointed for one zilla parishad seat, one panchayat samiti seat and 25 wards of gram panchayat is also announced.