Over 17.4 lakh voters await momentous day
11,682 PWDs, 705 centenarians to exercise their franchise
26 polling stations for Kashmiri migrant voters
2,135 polling stations across 5 districts.
Facilities for seniors, specially-abled, &women voters
Pink, green, and specially-abled polling stations
Voter information slips &mobile app support
CCTV surveillance &communication backups
SRINAGAR, MAY 11:With all arrangements in place, the polling for the 4th phase of ongoingLokSabha elections is all set to commence on May 13 in the 2-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency (PC).
“A total of 17,47,810 lakh voters have been enrolled in phase IV, including 8,75,938 male and 8,71,808 female voters besides 64 third gender electorates. There are around 11682 Persons with Disability and 705 persons above the age of 100 years who will also be exercising their franchise,” read a communiqué received from the office of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K.
The communiqué adds that around 2,135 polling stations have been set up in the fourth phase across five districts of Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Ganderbal, and Shopian (37- Shopian). The election staff including Presiding Officers will be stationed in every polling station. In total, more than 8,500 polling staff, including reserve will be deployed on duty on the polling day.
The communication added that the voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm and before that there will be a mock poll in the polling stations in the presence of the polling agents. Also, the voting will continue even after 6.00 pm if the voter’s queue is still there in the Polling Station premises to exercise their right to vote.
Every polling station will be provided with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF’s) like drinking water, electricity, toilet, ramp, furniture, verandah/shed besides wheelchairs will also be provided to the needy. The ballot unit will also have a list of contesting candidates in brail script. Wherever required, there will be separate queues for senior citizens and specially-abled persons facilitating them with early polling. Additionally, there will be a voter help desk, manned by the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO).
There will be 20 polling booths managed by women (also called as pink polling stations), 18 polling booths manned by specially-abled persons and 17 by youths. Also, there will be 21 green polling stations to spread the message about environmental concern. The purpose behind these special polling stations is to spread awareness among sections of society like women, specially-abled, first-time young voters to come forward and exercise their right to vote.
“Aimed at facilitating the voters in identification and increase voter turnout ratio, all voters have been provided with voter information slip with all requisite information like Polling Station name, date and time of poll, serial number of voter in the list, his full name, QR code but not the photograph of the voter. Hence, the voter Information Slips will not be allowed as proof of the identity of voters. Also, the citizens can view details of the Polling Station, Parliamentary Constituency and get the contact details of the Booth Level Officer, Electoral Registration Officer among other services, through Voter Helpline App (VHA). This mobile app is available on the Google Play store and Apple App Store.”
“In addition to the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), 12 types of documents will also be allowed to verify a voter and allow him for voting. EPIC card is not mandatory for voting. The requisite documents include Aadhaar Card, MGNREGA Job Card, Passbooks with photograph, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labour, Driving License, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension document with photograph, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies, Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, issued by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.”
“With the aim of spreading awareness among the voters, Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) emerges as a comprehensive programme aimed at reinforcing voter education and promoting active participation in the democratic process. During the last few months, through various modes, SVEEP activities were held in every nook and corner. Various activities like appeal messages in print, electronic and social media, through hoardings, banners, radio jingles etc were carried out. Street plays, use of social media influencers and icons were also done. Because of all these, the voter turnout is expected to be higher than the last LokSabha election. Awareness events in Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, LalChowk, Shehar-e-Khasetc places in Srinagar and in similar other places of other Districts were held.”
“More than 40 % Home voting for above 85 age and disability was held at doorsteps for all those applied.”
“The document further read that more than 600 journalists and cameramen of print, electronic and social media platforms have been provided with a pass to cover the polling process without compromising the secrecy of the vote and causing any inconvenience to the democratic exercise.”
“Besides, the Voter Turnout App will be used to display estimated provisional voter turnout details of each Parliamentary Constituency entered by the RO. The media can also use the same application to capture estimated voter turnout data. Approximate voter turnout data of each phase of the elections will be displayed through this app. There will be two-hourly reporting of voting percentage from 9.00 am to the end of the poll. The concerned ARO and RO will share the data with media accordingly.”
“All polling stations in phase 4 will have CCTV cameras for live webcasting to the control rooms established at District and CEO office. There are few polling stations which fall in communication shadow areas. Suitable alternate arrangements by providing Satellite Phones, Wireless sets, and Special Runners have been put in place in around few polling stations which fall in communication shadow areas.”
“Candidates/ Political parties need to obtain prior permission for campaigning purposes by seeking online permission on Suvidha app. Till date, election officers have accorded permission for 1556 applications and rejected 271.”
“In the entire Union Territory, from the date of announcement of the election till date material/cash of around Rs 44.23 crore has been seized by various enforcing departments. Cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies have been seized by various enforcing departments like Police Department, valuing Rs 40.56 Crore, Income Tax Department valuing 32 lacs, Excise Department of around 85 lacs, and Narcotics Control Bureau has seized drugs worth 2.32 Crore.”
“As per the communication, the public campaigning in areas of Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency has concluded at 6 pm here today, 48 hours before the conduct of the elections. No one, including citizens, journalists, politicians, would be allowed to partake in any election campaign-related activity. Holding public meetings, conferences, interviews has been stopped to give the voters a peaceful break from being influenced by campaigns so that they may make a considered decision while voting. Besides, political advertisement in print media can only be done only after prior clearance from Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).
