Poll officials to be awarded for high voter turnout

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Rajasthan has announced cash awards for poll officials who improve voter turnout in the December assembly elections.
According to a circular issued by the Rajasthan's CEO, those Returning Officers and other officers who increase voter turnout by 10 per cent as against the 2008-Assembly election figures will receive a cash award of Rs 11,000.
Those ROs (district collectors) who manage to get more than 10 per cent increase in voter turnout in their districts will be awarded Rs 51,000, the circular said.
Deputy district election officer, chief executive officer of municipal council and president of Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation Program committee will be awarded Rs 31,000 each for increasing the voter turn-out.

Selection of the districts with highest voter turnout would be done after the polls, the circular said.
Elections for the state assembly are scheduled to be held on December 1.
On being asked whether this award was a move by CEC at all-India level, an official spokesman of the state poll panel said so far it was the state CEO's decision.
In the last assembly elections, Hanumangarh was leading with 78.95 per cent voter turnout followed by Srigangangar with 75.85 per cent and Jaisalmer with 74.06 per cent.