Lok Sabha polls: GPS trackers in vehicles carrying EVMs
For the first time in the Lok Sabha elections, GPS will be installed in all Electronic Voting machines (EVM) carrying vehicles to monitor the movement of EVMs during the polling process.
“The GPS settings will be installed in each EVM carrying vehicle to monitor the movement of EVMs strictly. The end-to-end movement of all EVMs will be carefully monitored at all times, for which all sector vehicles with EVMs,” Assam chief electoral officer (CEO) Anurag Goel said here on Sunday.
“There will be real-time tracking and monitoring of the movement of EVMs through the GPS-enabled/mobile-based GPS tracking used in the vehicles carrying EVMs. For this purpose, an ‘EVM control room’ will be set up at DEO as well as CEO level, wherein the movement of EVMs will be monitored and tracked through GPS Monitors,” Goel said addressing a press conference in Guwahati.
“This time more than 15,000 to 18,000 vehicles will be used or hired for carrying EVMs in all 14 Lok Sabha constituencies across the state,” he said.
“A 24X7 control room has been set up. In the control room, inputs from media, webcasting/GPS of vehicles, and communication control room shall be monitored. A minimum of 50% of total polling stations including critical and vulnerable shall be covered by webcasting and GPS shall be fitted on vehicles of FST/ SST, sector officers and polling officers,” Goel also said.
This time, the elections to 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam will be held in three phases on April 19, 26 and May 7.
In the first phase, voting will be conducted in Kaziranga, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh and Jorhat seats.
In the 2nd phase on April 26, the poll will be held in Darrang-Udalguri, Diphu, Karimganj, Silchar and Nagaon constituencies.
The third phase of the poll will be conducted on May 7 in four constituencies- Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Barpeta and Guwahati.
Goel said the state requires 34,380 BU, 34,380 CU and 37,245 VVPAT for the entire poll process.
“However 41,823 BU, 37,744 CU and 39,917 VVPAT are available after conducting FLC. The first level checking has been completed and the first randomization of EVMs will take place within 2-3 days of notification. Before conducting the first randomization, the movement of some buffer machines (CU-2170, VVPAT-1480) has been planned amongst 44 election districts which will be completed by March 18. EDCs and MDVs have been used for creating awareness among voters regarding EVMs which have now been discontinued, given the announcement of elections,” he said.
The state has 28,645 polling stations. There are a total of 2,43,01,960 electorates in the state. Of them 1,21,79,358 are male, and 1,21,22,602 are female). The total number of new voters in the 18-19 years age group is 4,35,503 (2,46,149 male, 1,89,354 female).
There will be five auxiliary polling stations across the state. Of them one in Bongaigaon, 3 in Kamrup Metro, 2 in Kamrup district.
“Three detailed meetings have been held with the enforcement agencies to monitor various aspects. The agencies have been carrying out seizure which is being regularly intimated to Commission,” he said.
“Assured minimum facilities have been ensured at the polling stations by liaising with all concerned departments. Two meetings were held at the level of chief secretary to discuss various issues related to AMF in the polling stations,” he also said.
The total number of voters of the visually impaired is 45,173 and as per instruction of ECI provisions for setting up of model polling stations have been done in every election district.
The CEO clarified that the political parties need not take permission to hold any election-related meetings from the Sewa Portal of Assam Police, but they will have to apply for offline permissions in the office of DEO/RO or online mode in https://suvidha.eci.gov.in/pc/public/login. The candidates may also submit their nominations online in the Suvidha portal.
“Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) have been in place at all the districts and state level. All political advertisements proposed to be issued on electronic media shall require pre-certification from the concerned MCMC. Political advertisements in all electronic media/TV channels/cable networks/radio including private FM channels/cinema halls/audio-visual displays in public places/voice messages & bulk SMS over phone and social media & internet websites will come within the purview of pre-certification.
MCMCs will also keep a strict vigil on suspected cases of paid news in the media and suitable action will be taken in confirmed cases as per ECI guidelines after following all due procedures.
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