39.18 lakh electors eligible to vote across in 40 constituencies - Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 29: More than 39.18 lakh electors are eligible to exercise their franchise during phase III, the last phase of the J&K assembly polls on October 1 across the 40 assembly constituencies in seven districts of J&K, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole said.

In the Kashmir division, 16 assembly constituencies including Karnah, Tregham, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, and Gurez (ST) and in Jammu division 24 assembly constituencies comprising  Udhampur West,  Udhampur East,  Chenni,  Ramnagar (SC),   Bani,  Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar,  Ramgarh (SC),  Samba, Vijaypur,  Bishnah (SC), Suchetgarh (SC),  R S Pura, Jammu South,  Bahu, Jammu East,  Nagrota,  Jammu West,  Jammu North,  Akhnoor (SC),  and Chhamb will also go to the polls in this phase.

Polling Stations and Staff

In this phase, 5060 polling stations across seven districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, and Jammu would be established.

Four election staff, including the Presiding Officer, would be stationed in every polling station.

In total, more than 20,000 polling staff will be deployed on duty for the 3rd phase election.

Electors

A total of 39,18,220 lakh electors are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Of them, 20,09,033 are males, 19,09,130 females, and 57 third gender.

As many as 1.94 lakh youth between the age 18-19 years, along with 35,860 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 32,953 elderly voters above the age of 85 are also eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase.

Mock Poll and Poll Time

The voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm and before that, there will be a mock poll in the polling stations in the presence of the polling agents.

The voting will continue even after 6 pm if the voter’s queue is still there in the polling station premises to exercise their right to vote.

Facilities at Polling Station

Every polling station will be provided with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) like drinking water, electricity, toilet, ramp, furniture, veranda and shed besides wheelchairs will also be provided to the needy.

The ballot unit will also have a list of contesting candidates in Braille script.

Wherever required, there will be separate queues for senior citizens, Persons with Disability (PwD), and persons facilitating them with early polling.

Additionally, there will be a voter help desk, manned by the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) to extend necessary help whenever required.

Special Polling Stations

There will be 50 polling booths managed by women, known as pink polling stations, 43 polling stations manned by PwDs and 40 polling stations manned by youth.

Also, there will be 45 green polling stations to spread messages about environmental concerns and 33 unique polling stations.

Twenty-nine polling stations are established near the LOC and IB for residents residing there.

The purpose behind these special polling stations is to spread awareness among sections of society like women, PwDs, and first-time young voters to come forward and exercise their right to vote.

To date, more than 1.07 lakh plants have been planted on the premises of all polling stations.

Distribution of Voter Information Slip

To facilitate voter identification and also to increase voter turnout ratios, all voters have been provided with voter information slips.

It is a simple black and white printed piece of paper with information like polling station name, date and time of the poll, serial number of voter in the list, his full name, and QR code but not the photograph of the voter.

Hence, voter information slips will not be allowed as proof of the identity of voters.

Proof of identity will be any document out of 12 documents, including EPIC.

The BLO concerned has distributed 100 percent of voter information slips.

The citizens can also view details of the polling station, and constituency, and get the contact details of the BLO, and Electoral Registration Officer among other services, through the Voter Helpline App (VHA), available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Electoral Photo Identification Cards (EPIC) of all those voters who have enrolled as fresh voters or have changed their particulars through Form No 8, during the recently-held Special Summary Roll (SSR) in the month of July-August, have been dispatched by speed post.

Without waiting for receipt of these EPIC cards, they can come to polling stations with anyone out of the 12 IDs, the ECI has allowed for as alternate documents for voter identification for assembly elections.

Documents Which Can Be Used for Voter Identification

In addition to the EPIC, 12 types of documents will also be allowed to verify a voter and aid him in voting.

EPIC card is not mandatory for voting. If some voter has misplaced his or her EPIC card, any of the 12 documents can be used by her or him at the polling station and after verification.

These documents include an Aadhaar Card, MGNREGA Job Card, passbooks with photographs issued by a bank or post office, and 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 and State government, PSUs, and public limited companies, official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, and MLCs, Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

SVEEP

To spread 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.

The need for SVEEP arises from the Election Commission of India’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the participation of every voter in this monumental celebration of democracy.

During the last few months, through various modes, SVEEP activities were undertaken in every nook and corner.

Various activities like appeal messages in print, electronic and social media, through hoardings, banners, and radio jingles were carried out.

Street plays, use of social media influencers and icons, adventure and indigenous sports activities, along with plantation drives, painting and debate competitions were also done.

Due to all these, the voter turnout is expected to be higher than in the last assembly elections.

Similarly, to ensure accessible and inclusive elections, home voting has been held for PWD with more than 40 percent benchmark disability as well as for elderly electors above the age of 85 years, for all those who had applied for the same.

Media Pass for Facilitation of Poll Coverage

More than 1600 journalists and cameramen of print, electronic, and social media platforms have been provided with requisite passes to cover the polling process.

Without compromising the secrecy of the vote and causing any inconvenience to the democratic exercise, they can cover the polling.

Detailed instructions have been given to the journalists on the pass.

Voter Turnout App and Reporting of Poll Percentage

The voter turnout app will be used to display the estimated provisional voter turnout details of each assembly constituency entered by the RO.

The media can also use the same application to capture estimated voter turnout data.

Approximate voter turnout data for each phase of the elections will be displayed through this app.

There will be 2 hourly reports of voting percentages from 9 am to the end of the poll.

The concerned ARO and RO will share the data with the media accordingly.

The updated figures shall also be placed in the voter turnout app.

These figures are always subject to, normally upward correction as the final confirmed figures are collected after receiving the statutory forms from all polling stations.

So, till these final figures are known, figures on the Voter Turnout App are to be always tentative.

Use of Technology – Webcasting of Polling Stations and GPS for Vehicle

All 100 percent polling stations (5060) in 40 assembly constituencies will have CCTV-type cameras for live webcasting to control rooms established at the district and CEO offices.

Cameras will be positioned in such a way so that they do not violate the secrecy of the vote.

There are few polling stations which fall in communication shadow areas.

Suitable alternate arrangements in the communication shadow areas by providing satellite phones, wireless sets, and special runners have been put in place.

All vehicles being used in elections have been enabled with a vehicle tracking system (GPS).

Candidates and political parties, who need to obtain prior permission for campaigning purposes, can seek online permission on the Suvidha app and portal.

To date, election officers have accorded permission for 6291 applications and rejected around 700. Candidates were able to campaign in the nook and corner of their constituencies between 6 am to 10 pm.

Monitoring of Election Expenditure – Seizures

In the entire J&K, from the date of announcement of elections, material and cash of around Rs 128 crore has been seized.

These include cash, liquor, drugs, and other freebies seized by the Police Department valuing Rs 115 crore.

MCC and Observance of Silence Period

The public campaigning in all 40 assembly constituencies going to polls in the third phase concluded at 6 pm on Sunday, 48 hours before the closing poll hour, also known as the silence period or pre-election silence.

All campaign-related activity is supposed to be halted and no one, including citizens, journalists, or politicians, would be allowed to partake in any election campaign-related activity during this 48-hour-long silence period.

Holding public meetings, conferences, and 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 the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

The sale of liquor, even from licensed shops, has also been banned.

Establishment of Command-and-Control Room at CEO Office, DEO Offices

To monitor various election-related activities and also check MCC compliance, a Command and Control Room has been established at the office of CEO J&K in Srinagar and Jammu.

Similar mini-control rooms have also been set up at every DEO office which are functioning 24×7.

All electronic media channels and social media platforms are monitored here, any violation so detected, is reported and the concerned RO and ARO issue a notice.

Apart from looking for MCC violations, the control room gets live feed from more than 100 percent of polling stations and GPS vehicle tracking of all vehicles being used for poll parties.

Migrant Voters and Special Polling Stations

As per the latest instructions of the Election Commission of India, special polling stations have been established for migrant voters of the Kashmir division.

A total of 24 special polling stations have been established for migrant voters of the Kashmir division, which includes 19 special polling stations in Jammu, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur district.

Special polling station-wise extract voter list will be with BLOs.

Like all other normal polling stations, these polling stations will also have all the basic facilities for voters.

The Election Commission of India is committed to providing all basic facilities on 100 percent polling stations and giving a better experience to voters.