Election Commission engaged in preparations for Punjab Assembly elections: Candidates will be able to spend only 30.80 lakhs, the number of polling booths will also be increased; EVMs will come from Madhya Pradesh

The Election Commission has geared up for the Punjab Assembly elections. The commission has fixed the amount to be spent in the election of the candidate at Rs 30.80 lakh. The Election Commission will have a special watch on the expenditure of the candidate. Apart from this, the impact of Corona is also going to be on the elections and many arrangements are being made for this. There has been a meeting between the Election Commission and the Health Department regarding the possible third wave of Corona. This time the number of polling booths will be increased in the state, so that there is not much crowd. Apart from this, this time EVM machines will be procured from Madhya Pradesh for the elections.

Giving information during the press conference held in Chandigarh, Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju has said that Corona is the biggest threat in elections and we are engaged in all kinds of arrangements to deal with it. We are procuring PPE kits, masks, sanitizers and soaps at our level and it will be made available at every polling. On his behalf, a meeting has been held with the Health Secretary in the Punjab Government in this regard and these meetings will continue continuously. The government has been asked to try that 100% vaccination should be done before the elections. Health department officials have been told that BLOs engaged in door-to-door vote making, research and other works should be vaccinated on priority.

Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju briefing about the preparations for the Punjab Assembly elections.

Number of polling booths will increase, vote on booth will be reduced
Taking this big decision in view of Corona, the number of polling booths has been increased. This time around 24689 polling booths will be there in Punjab. Polling booths where there are more than 1200 votes, new polling booths have been made after cutting votes from there. Therefore, at some places, the number of polling booths may change and the location may also change.

EVMs will come from Madhya Pradesh, politicians will check
The Chief Electoral Officer has informed that this time EVM machines are coming from Madhya Pradesh. As soon as they come, their physical checking will be done first, after that they will also be seen by casting their votes. This process is done on 10% of the machines. Every machine is checked by casting 1000 votes and the representatives of political parties are also checked. These EVMs have been called safe by the Chief Electoral Officer.