Summary
A total of 24689 polling stations and 51 auxiliary polling stations have been set up for polling, out of which 2013 have been identified as critical and 2952 sensitive polling stations.
All preparations have been completed for the assembly elections in Punjab. Today from 8 am to 6 pm, 2.14 crore voters of the state will lock the fate of a total of 1304 candidates in EVMs. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr. S. Karuna Raju said that solid arrangements have been made for the elections so that free, fair and peaceful elections can be ensured.
He informed that there are total 21499804 voters in the state, out of which 11298081 are male, 10200996 are female and 727 are transgender. There are 1304 candidates in the fray in 117 circles, including 1209 men, 93 women and two transgenders. Of these candidates, 231 belong to national parties, 250 to provincial parties, 362 to unrecognized parties and 461 to independent candidates. He said that 315 candidates contesting the elections have criminal background.
Dr. Raju informed that a total of 24689 polling stations and 51 auxiliary polling stations have been set up at 14684 polling stations, out of which 2013 have been identified as critical and 2952 sensitive polling stations. He said that there would be 1196 model polling stations, 196 women-run polling stations and 70 differently-abled polling stations. Webcasting of all polling stations is being done.
28328 Ballot Units and 24740 EVM-VVPATs are being used in this election. There are two ballot units each in 6 assembly constituencies: 52-Kharar, 59-Sahnewal, 61-Ludhiana South, 67-Payal, 110-Patiala Rural and 115-Patiala.
117 EVM strong rooms will be built at a total of 67 places
Dr. Raju informed that apart from three Special State Observers, 65 General Observers, 50 Expenditure Observers and 29 Police Observers have been appointed by the Election Commission of India. 2083 sector officers have been deployed to assist the polling parties. In the state, 17 assembly circles have been identified as expenditure sensitive. He said that there are 117 Dispatch Centers and 117 Collection Centres, while 117 EVM Strong Rooms have been set up at 67 places in the State.
Drinking water, wheelchairs and Kovid-19 preventive material at polling booths
He said that availability of at least one wheel chair, at least one wheel chair would be ensured at each polling station with at least facilities including clean drinking water, tents and chairs. In addition, each polling station will have COVID-19 material including gloves, sanitizer, soap and mask while dustbins and colored bags will be kept for proper disposal of the residue. He said that all the polling staff would be provided with food and refreshment. Dr. Raju also appealed to the voters at the polling stations to wear masks and follow the COVID-19 protocol including maintaining social distance.
Form-D for Postal Ballot
He further informed that Form D has been provided to 444721 persons above 80 years of age, 138116 Divyang Voters and 162 Kovid-19 patients for postal ballot facility.
348836 voters will cast their vote for the first time
The Chief Electoral Officer said that this time 348836 voters in the age group of 18-19 years will exercise their right to vote and every district administration is taking necessary steps to motivate these young voters for the first time. He said that there are 509405 voters above 80 years of age, 109624 service voters and 158341 disabled voters, while 1608 are migrant voters. He said that welcome kits have been issued to first time voters, while voter information guides have also been distributed to make people aware of their voting rights.
More than 5000 buses for polling parties
Dr. Raju informed that 9966 vehicles equipped with GPS are being used for election duties. More than 5000 buses are being used to send the polling parties to the polling stations. Dr. Raju said that in order to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner, the police parties deployed across the state are conducting careful searches to check the transactions of liquor, narcotics and money. All DCs, CPs and SSPs are keeping a strict vigil to prevent incidents of distribution of liquor, narcotics and money to mislead voters and raids are being conducted immediately on receipt of information or complaint.
Goods worth 500 crore seized, 3467 FIR registered
After the model code of conduct came into force, till February 18, different enforcement teams have seized goods worth Rs 500.70 crore. The monitoring teams of Punjab Excise Department have seized 58.18 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 35.43 crore. Similarly, the Enforcement Wing has also seized narcotics worth Rs 368.60 crore and benami cash worth Rs 32.52 crore. Dr. Raju informed that 3467 FIRs have been registered in the state from January 9 to February 18. He said that out of total 3467 FIRs, 93 are IPC, 22 RP Act, 203 Property Defecation, 40 related to Kovid-19, 902 under NDPS, 2109 related to Excise, 80 related to arms and 18 other cases.
3 kms from Chandigarh. Prohibition on sale of liquor till
Dr. Raju also informed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the last 48 hours has been implemented from 6 pm on February 18. In view of the elections, there will be a complete ban on the sale of liquor in Punjab during this silence period. He also informed that liquor vends falling within 3 km radius of neighboring states- Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Chandigarh have also been declared as dry days during this time.
Total Voters : 2149980
Male : 11298081
Female : 10200996
Transgender: 727
Total Candidates: 1304
Male : 1209
Females : 93
Transgender : 2
National Parties : 231
Regional Parties : 250
Unrecognized parties: 362
Independent candidates: 461
Total Polling Station : 24689
Assistant Polling Station : 51
Of serious nature : 2013
Sensitive : 2952
Total Ballot Unit : 28328
Total EVM-VVPAT: 24740
2-2 ballot units in 6 circles
Expansion
All preparations have been completed for the assembly elections in Punjab. Today from 8 am to 6 pm, 2.14 crore voters of the state will lock the fate of a total of 1304 candidates in EVMs. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr. S. Karuna Raju said that solid arrangements have been made for the elections so that free, fair and peaceful elections can be ensured.
He informed that there are total 21499804 voters in the state, out of which 11298081 are male, 10200996 are female and 727 are transgender. There are 1304 candidates in the fray in 117 circles, including 1209 men, 93 women and two transgenders. Of these candidates, 231 belong to national parties, 250 to provincial parties, 362 to unrecognized parties and 461 to independent candidates. He said that 315 candidates contesting the elections have criminal background.
Dr. Raju informed that a total of 24689 polling stations and 51 auxiliary polling stations have been set up at 14684 polling stations, out of which 2013 have been identified as critical and 2952 sensitive polling stations. He said that there would be 1196 model polling stations, 196 women-run polling stations and 70 differently-abled polling stations. Webcasting of all polling stations is being done.
28328 Ballot Units and 24740 EVM-VVPATs are being used in this election. There are two ballot units each in 6 assembly constituencies: 52-Kharar, 59-Sahnewal, 61-Ludhiana South, 67-Payal, 110-Patiala Rural and 115-Patiala.
117 EVM strong rooms will be built at a total of 67 places
Dr. Raju informed that apart from three Special State Observers, 65 General Observers, 50 Expenditure Observers and 29 Police Observers have been appointed by the Election Commission of India. 2083 sector officers have been deployed to assist the polling parties. In the state, 17 assembly circles have been identified as expenditure sensitive. He said that there are 117 Dispatch Centers and 117 Collection Centres, while 117 EVM Strong Rooms have been set up at 67 places in the State.
Drinking water, wheelchairs and Kovid-19 preventive material at polling booths
He said that availability of at least one wheel chair, at least one wheel chair would be ensured at each polling station with at least facilities including clean drinking water, tents and chairs. In addition, each polling station will have COVID-19 material including gloves, sanitizer, soap and mask while dustbins and colored bags will be kept for proper disposal of the residue. He said that all the polling staff would be provided with food and refreshment. Dr. Raju also appealed to the voters at the polling stations to wear masks and follow the COVID-19 protocol including maintaining social distance.
Form-D for Postal Ballot
He further informed that Form D has been provided to 444721 persons above 80 years of age, 138116 Divyang Voters and 162 Kovid-19 patients for postal ballot facility.
348836 voters will cast their vote for the first time
The Chief Electoral Officer said that this time 348836 voters in the age group of 18-19 years will exercise their right to vote and every district administration is taking necessary steps to motivate these young voters for the first time. He said that there are 509405 voters above 80 years of age, 109624 service voters and 158341 disabled voters, while 1608 are migrant voters. He said that welcome kits have been issued to first time voters, while voter information guides have also been distributed to make people aware of their voting rights.
More than 5000 buses for polling parties
Dr. Raju informed that 9966 vehicles equipped with GPS are being used for election duties. More than 5000 buses are being used to send the polling parties to the polling stations. Dr. Raju said that in order to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner, the police parties deployed across the state are conducting careful searches to check the transactions of liquor, narcotics and money. All DCs, CPs and SSPs are keeping a strict vigil to prevent incidents of distribution of liquor, narcotics and money to mislead voters and raids are being conducted immediately on receipt of information or complaint.
Goods worth 500 crore seized, 3467 FIR registered
After the model code of conduct came into force, till February 18, different enforcement teams have seized goods worth Rs 500.70 crore. The monitoring teams of Punjab Excise Department have seized 58.18 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 35.43 crore. Similarly, the Enforcement Wing has also seized narcotics worth Rs 368.60 crore and benami cash worth Rs 32.52 crore. Dr. Raju informed that 3467 FIRs have been registered in the state from January 9 to February 18. He said that out of total 3467 FIRs, 93 are IPC, 22 RP Act, 203 Property Defecation, 40 related to Kovid-19, 902 under NDPS, 2109 related to Excise, 80 related to arms and 18 other cases.
3 kms from Chandigarh. Prohibition on sale of liquor till
Dr. Raju also informed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the last 48 hours has been implemented from 6 pm on February 18. In view of the elections, there will be a complete ban on the sale of liquor in Punjab during this silence period. He also informed that liquor vends falling within 3 km radius of neighboring states- Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Union Territory of Chandigarh have also been declared as dry days during this time.
Total Voters : 2149980
Male : 11298081
Female : 10200996
Transgender: 727
Total Candidates: 1304
Male : 1209
Females : 93
Transgender : 2
National Parties : 231
Regional Parties : 250
Unrecognized parties: 362
Independent candidates: 461
Total Polling Station : 24689
Assistant Polling Station : 51
Of serious nature : 2013
Sensitive : 2952
Total Ballot Unit : 28328
Total EVM-VVPAT: 24740
2-2 ballot units in 6 circles
,