In order to empower women, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Delhi has decided to set up all women polling booths containing only women staff for the first time in the national Capital. Further, ahead of the General Elections, the election commission will also provide transport facility for the physically disabled persons and will also launch mobile application called “C- Vigil App’ where the citizens can file complaints pertaining to activities such as bribing the voters and other activities that violate the election code of conduct.
Around two lakh people have been added to the electoral roll in Delhi in the last two months, taking the total number of eligible voters to 1.39 crore at present. The Lok Sabha elections will start from April 11 and will be held in seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23. The elections in Delhi will be held on May 12.
“All woman polling booths will be exclusively for women and the locations are yet to be identified. The aim behind this initiative is to showcase their abilities and engender a sense of woman empowerment. These special booths have all-women staff, including presiding officers, polling officers, micro observers and security personnel. Such booths are aimed at empowering women and increasing their participation in the electoral process,” said the Singh adding that the purpose of this exercise to showcase their abilities and engender a sense of woman empowerment.
He further added that to maintain transparency and provide encourage the voters in, mobile applications will be launched such as ‘C-vigil app’ though which differently-abled persons can download to apply for PwD (Persons with Disability) voter cards and can also report violations of the Model Code of Conduct. “The app is mainly for the citizens where they can file complaints regarding illegal activities to bribe the voters such as distributing cash, gifts or liquors. The app is fitted with Geo tagging. If anyone witnesses such kind of activity they can capture or make a two minutes video and upload to the app and action will be taken within 100 minutes of complaint,” said Singh.
The CEO however said that about 90,000 voter applications are currently under process and the commission has asked the first-time voters to apply as soon as possible to get their names enrolled in the electoral list. “The last date for filing nominations for Lok Sabha polls in the Delhi is April 23. Thus, the notifications will be issued on April 16 and the scrutiny will place on April 24 and last date for withdrawal of nomination would be April 26,” said the official.
Further, an increase of nearly two lakh voters has been witnessed from the corresponding figure on January 18 this year. “Till January 18, the total number of voters in the electoral roll of Delhi was 1,36,95,291. Thus, there is an increase of about two lakh voters since then,” said Singh.
The total number of male and female voters in the National Capital are 76,61,680 and 62,35,814 respectively while the number of third gender voters are 647. Polling stations will be set up in total 2,696 locations with 13816 polling booths in each Assembly constituency. Delhi has seven Lok Sabha seats and 70 Assembly constituencies.
