Election Commission of India's Comprehensive Measures for Smooth Elections
Election Commission of India's Comprehensive Measures for Smooth Elections
New Delhi, April 12, 2024
With 102 Parliamentary Constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories, as well as 92 Assembly Constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, set to go to polls on April 19, 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed a formidable force of over 350 observers to ensure smooth, free, and fair elections.
Observer Deployment and Responsibilities
According to the press note, the ECI has deployed 127 General Observers, 67 Police Observers, and 167 Expenditure Observers across the constituencies scheduled for polling on April 19. All observers have reported to their assigned constituencies before the last date of nomination on March 26, 2024.
During a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the observers were directed to strictly ensure the availability of all amenities at polling stations, especially to combat the heat. They were also tasked with preventing the offering of inducements close to the first phase of voting, ensuring optimal utilization of security forces, and maintaining strict vigilance over law and order.
Key Directives to Observers
- Ensuring preparedness for polling and a level playing field for all stakeholders, including candidates and political parties.
- Remaining physically available within the assigned Parliamentary Constituency throughout the election process.
- Wide publication and circulation of contact details (mobile/landline/email) and place of stay among candidates and political parties for easy accessibility.
- Randomization of deployment of forces in their presence.
- Judicious utilization of Central Forces and State Police Forces, maintaining neutrality and ensuring no favoritism towards any political party or candidate.
- Randomization of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs), and polling personnel in their presence.
- Facilitating smooth processes for home voting for those above 85 years of age, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and postal ballots for election duty personnel, essential service workers, and service voters.
- Ensuring the supply of Electoral Rolls to political parties and contesting candidates.
- Overseeing fair vulnerability mapping by the district administration and the preparation of transportation and communication plans accordingly.
- Deployment of Micro Observers.
- Commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs in the presence of candidates or their representatives.
- Robust security arrangements at EVM Strong Rooms and ensuring the presence of authorized agents of all candidates.
- Ensuring the establishment of complaint redressal mechanisms and integrated Control Rooms in districts.
- Facilitating 100% distribution of voter information slips before the polling day.
- Ensuring proper training of election staff in the use of IT applications such as C-vigil, Voter Helpline App, Saksham App, ENCORE, and Suvidha App.
- Overseeing the training of polling personnel, including counting staff and Micro Observers.
- Visiting polling stations to ensure the availability of Assured Minimum Facilities.
- Setting up Voter Assistance Booths at all polling stations for the convenience of voters, with special facilitation for differently-abled, physically challenged, women, elderly, and leprosy-affected voters.
- Ensuring the provision of drinking water, sheds/shamyanas for voters in queues, and proper seating arrangements outside polling stations.
- Monitoring the round-the-clock operations of Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams, Video Viewing Teams, Border Check Posts, and Nakas to prevent the movement and distribution of cash, liquor, freebies, drugs, and narcotics.
- Ensuring the proper functioning of Media Certification and Monitoring Committees for pre-certification of political advertisements and monitoring paid news.
- Timely curbing of fake news, misinformation, and proactive dissemination of information to steer positive narratives.
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