Lok Sabha Elections-2024: Elections not a one-day event; extensive efforts go into preparation: CEO Pole

Kulgam, Apr 06: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, on Saturday said that elections are not merely a one-day event, it takes months of administrative efforts to prepare.
CEO Pole was speaking during his visit to Kulgam wherein he reviewed the election preparedness and took firsthand account of the Strong Rooms set up in the district.
The CEO was accompanied by District Election Officer (DEO) Athar Aamir Khan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sahil Sarangal.
Pole said that elections are not merely a one-day affair; rather, they involve extensive preparations that common citizens may not fully comprehend. He said that the meticulous planning and efforts undertaken by the administration, which span over three to four months.
“Approximately six months before the elections, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are distributed to assembly constituencies after undergoing a thorough first-level check in the presence of political parties,” Pole said.
He further said that ongoing training sessions are being conducted for presiding officers, polling officers, and nodal officers, ensuring they are well-prepared for their roles. “Static Surveillance Teams (SST) and Flying Squads have been assigned their respective duties, and as the elections draw closer, additional preparations are being made,” he added.
He said that according to the Chief Election Commissioner, if there is any single highest mobilization activity in the whole world, it’s the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. These elections involve around 97 crore voters nationwide, with 87 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir exercising their franchise.
He said that over 70 thousand polling staff and others, totaling 1.5 lakh employees from various departments, are involved in the electoral process.
Regarding security measures, Pole said the police know about troublemakers and they are bound down, and if needed, detention orders are passed against troublemakers under relevant legal provisions. Moreover, additional troops are deployed in vulnerable areas.
He urged voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote. “Anyone above 18 years old should cast their vote. Those who have not yet registered should do so and should cast their vote on May 7th for whichever candidate they like,” he added.
Besides DEO, SSP the CEO was also joined by Deputy District Election Officer (Dy DEO), Bilal Kamgar, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Mushtaq Rasool and others.