panaji many government officials and staff on polling duty on saturday said they abstained from voting as the postal ballot made available to them does not guarantee secrecy speaking to toi on condition of anonymity government officials said the method used in postal ballot could lead to sleepless nights putting their entire careers at stake this is the second time i am losing out on voting but it doesnt matter i cannot take the risk said a government official the method used in postal ballot requires us to fill up a form then we have to write a serial number on the form which has to match the serial number on the ballot given to us the ballot goes into a sealed envelope this sealed envelope along with the form filled goes into a bigger envelope this is where secrecy is compromised anyone opening the bigger envelope can note the serial number written on the form and match it with the ballot a polling officer told stoi staff at another polling booth said that being government servants they were under a greater threat than a lay person if a politician found out whom their vote was cast in favour of some of these candidates go on to become our political masters if they find out that we havent voted for them they can play havoc with our careers we can be transferred anywhere our promotions and increments can be held back these politicians can be very vindictive another government officer working at a polling booth said a government teacher urged election authorities to look into the matter if the election authorities want us to vote then they must come up with a solution the method of casting a postal ballot must be changed to ensure fullproof secrecy of our vote the teacher saidgoa assembly elections 2012elections 2012 news