epa08847699 An Indian polling official checks a voter's temperature and another pours sanitizer on a voter's hands at a polling station during the first phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections at Garkhal village near India-Pakistan international border in Akhnoor sector some 30 KM from Jammu, India, 28 November 2020. Voting for the first phase of the District Development Council (DDC) and Panchayat by-elections is underway in Jammu and Kashmir Union territory after the abrogation of Article 370. DDC Elections and Panchayat by-polls are being held in 8 phases commencing from 28 November to 19 December. The counting of votes shall be conducted on 22 December. The Election Commission of India (ECI) took precautionary measures against the ongoing coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. The ECI made arrangements for face masks, sanitizer, and gloves at the polling centers as India still has the world's second-highest number of COVID-19 cases. EPA/JAIPAL SINGH