Days after the Election Commission of India concluded its visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the poll preparations, the team under Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar also completed its assessment for the Haryana assembly polls 2024.
The team of the ECI met with political parties and poll officials to assess the situation on the ground. The term of Haryana assembly will end on November 3 and elections are scheduled for the 90 seats – 73 General and 17 SC.
“During the two-day review visit of the Commission, representatives of national and state political parties – Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, Indian National Lok Dal and Jannayak Janta Party came to meet the Commission,” an official statement said.
The parties demanded the poll body to ensure that elections are conducted free and fair with strict action against misuse of government machinery. They also demanded deployment of adequate central forces in sensitive polling stations.
“Some parties also highlighted the requirement of updating the electoral roll with removal of dead and shifted voters in Panchkula. Some parties advocated for changing the location of parties polling desks from 200 metres to 50 metres from the polling station entrance in urban areas. Concerns were also raised about the inaccessibility of election observers for timely grievance redressal,” the statement added.
Parties asked the poll body for timely sharing of voter lists with candidates immediately after the nomination deadline. Regarding polling stations, there was a request to reduce the distance between polling stations and improve facilities for elderly and women voters.
They also demanded providing advance intimation to political parties and candidates when polling teams visit electors for home voting. There were also demands to increase the expenditure limit for candidates in assembly elections.
“The Commission assured the representatives that it has taken cognisance of suggestions and concerns of the political parties and ECI is committed to conduct free, fair, participative, inclusive, peaceful and inducement free elections in the state. Political parties were encouraged to actively engage in the ongoing second Special Summary Revision process to update the electoral rolls ahead of the election,” the statement added.
Home Voting for Senior Citizens, PwDs
While the state has witnessed home voting facility in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls for those who are over 85+ years and PwDs with 40 per cent benchmark disability, it is for the first time that in assembly elections the option will be given.
“Senior Citizens over 85+ years and PwDs with 40 per cent benchmark disability will be provided an option to vote from the comfort of their homes. Home Voting facility is optional. If an elector is willing to visit the polling station physically to cast their vote, necessary assistance will be provided at the polling station,” the ECI said.
Application form 12D is distributed and collected by BLO within five days of the notification, from such electors who opt for this facility and deposit it with the Returning Officer.
“The complete process is videographed and representatives of political parties/candidates are always involved in the entire process of voting from home,” the poll body explained.
Final Electoral Roll By Month-End
The final electoral roll will be published on August 27, 2024, a copy of which will be provided to all recognised parties free of cost, the ECI said.
CEO Haryana informed that as per the draft electoral published on August 2, a total of 2.01 crore electors are registered in the state with around 1.06 crore male and 0.95 crore female electors.
“Over 4.52 lakh first time voters (18-19 years); 2.55 lakh 85+ senior citizens and 1.5 lakh PwD voters are registered in the state. More than 10,000 voters are 100+ years old,” the ECI said.
Further, 20,629 polling stations will be set up in assembly elections, which is an increase of 817 polling stations from 2019 polls. While 13,497 of these will be in rural areas, 7,132 will be urban polling stations with an average of 977 voters per polling station.
Last week, Kumar and his team completed their two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review assembly polls preparedness assuring that they have the Supreme Court directed deadline of September 30 in their mind and are ready to hold the election in the region soon.
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