National Desk, 18th April: The Election Commission of India has completed all preparations to kickstart the 18th Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections in four states, beginning with Phase 1 tomorrow.
Emphasizing its unwavering commitment to conducting a free, fair, peaceful, accessible, participative, and inducement-free poll, the Commission reaffirms its dedication to ensuring a democratic process of the highest standard.
Over the past two years, the Commission, along with its teams across states and union territories, has diligently worked to enhance the electoral experience for India’s voters through meticulous planning, extensive training, and collaboration with various agencies and organizations.
The polling process, preceded by thorough consultations, reviews, and training sessions, has been refined with new operating procedures tailored to the current times. The Commission’s efforts have involved close coordination with a wide array of stakeholders nationwide.
Led by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the Commission has finalized preparations for Phase 1 of the General Elections 2024, which will span till June 1, with nearly 97 crore voters set to cast their ballots.
As polling day approaches, the Commission urges voters to exercise their democratic right responsibly and with pride. CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar has made a televised appeal to all voters, emphasizing the importance of participation in the electoral process.
Here are some key facts about Phase 1 of the elections:
-Polling will be held for 102 Parliamentary Constituencies and 92 Assembly Constituencies across 21 states and union territories.
– Over 18 lakh polling officials are prepared to welcome over 16.63 crore voters across 1.87 lakh polling stations.
– The electorate comprises 8.4 crore males, 8.23 crore females, and 11,371 third-gender electors, including 35.67 lakh first-time voters and 3.51 crore young voters aged 20-29 years.
– A total of 1625 candidates, including 134 females, are contesting in Phase 1.
– Extensive arrangements, including deployment of helicopters, special trains, and vehicles, have been made to facilitate the smooth conduct of polling and ensure security.
The Commission has implemented various measures to maintain peace and purity during the elections, including adequate deployment of central forces, webcasting in polling stations, and micro observers’ deployment.
– Special provisions have been made to facilitate voting for elderly and persons with disabilities (PwD) voters, including the option for home voting and provision of necessary facilities at polling stations.
– Model polling stations, managed by women and persons with disabilities, have been set up across constituencies to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
– The Commission urges voters to verify information from authentic sources and guard against misinformation and fake news, especially on social media platforms.
– Media personnel have been facilitated for coverage, and voter turnout can be tracked through the ECI voter turnout app on polling day.
– For comprehensive information related to the elections, the Commission has launched a dedicated website: https://elections24.eci.gov.in/.