Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan has instructed the concerned Collectors and District Election Officers to continuously conduct voter awareness activities for voting to be held on May 13 for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha Elections-2024. He said that they should directly contact the voters, communicate with them, resolve their doubts and in view of the heat, also tell them about the facilities available at the polling stations. He said that all necessary arrangements should be made so that citizens come to the polling booth to vote. Rajan was addressing the collectors and district election officers of 8 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies going for the fourth phase of voting through video conferencing on Wednesday.
Rajan said that for voter awareness, an action plan should be made at the local level and voters should be contacted door to door. Make elaborate arrangements to conduct smooth, seamless, fair and peaceful voting without any hindrance. In view of the heat, all other necessary arrangements including shade, cool water, seating arrangements, coolers, fans, medicines should be available at the polling stations.
Rajan said that utmost caution and vigilance should be exercised during the elections. All officers should maintain their level of alertness to conduct elections in a free, fair, uninterrupted and peaceful manner.
Rajan directed to make additional security arrangements in polling stations in vulnerable areas. Special security arrangements should be made in buildings where there are five or more polling stations. Deploy additional polling personnel in polling stations where the number of voters is high.
Rajan said that in the fourth phase, voting will be held on May 13 in a total of 18 thousand 7 polling stations of 8 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies. Out of these, webcasting will be done in 12 thousand 180 polling stations. He asked the Collectors and District Election Officers to install CCTV cameras inside and outside the critical polling stations to keep an eye on the elements creating obstruction in the voting. Also, make effective arrangements for monitoring of webcasting, so that if irregularities are seen in voting at any centre, immediate action can be taken.
Rajan laid emphasized on conducting voter awareness activities on a large scale at every polling station to boost the voting turnout. He said that for this, “Chalein Booth Ki Ore” campaign should be launched. This message should reach every house and every voter connected to every polling station that everyone must exercise their franchise on May 13. All District Election Officers should form local teams for each polling station to go door-to-door to motivate citizens to cast their votes. With the assistance of this party encourage people to participate in voting on voting day as well. Rajan said that model polling centres should be established in all the districts, not only in rural areas but also in urban areas. The facilities of these centres should be such that more and more voters are motivated to cast their votes. Welcome the voters with refreshments. He said that all appropriate arrangements should be made at the polling stations as well as at the polling material distribution sites. Arrangements like mini hospital, mini ICU can be made at the material distribution site. Provide cool refreshments to the polling parties.
Rajan said that distribution of voter information slips is very important in increasing the voting percentage. Special attention should be paid to the distribution of voter slips. No voter should be deprived of getting the slip. It should be ensured that the slips reach cent percent voters. He said that voters should be made to understand that voter slip alone is not sufficient for voting. Along with the voter slip, they will have to bring alternative identity documents prescribed by the Election Commission of India.
