Chandigarh, March 10 Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan said that, today the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a press conference, has announced the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2019. As per announcement, poll in Haryana State will take place in 6th phase on May 12, 2019 and counting will be done on May 23, 2019. Necessary notification for call for constituency will be issued by the Commission.
Mr. Ranjan, who was addressing a press conference here today, said that as per direction of the Commission, latest model M3 Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations in the State. The instructions have been issued to all the Returning Officers/District Election Officers in the State for launching an awareness campaign for the Media, Political Parties and Public regarding the use of EVM in the General Elections to Lok Sabha. They may also be guided about the fool proof fitness and working of EVMs. Two stage randomization of EVMs will be done as per ECI directions, that is, first in the presence of representatives of recognized political parties and second in the presence of Observers, Candidates or their election agents.
With the announcement of Elections on March 10, 2019, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect. Instructions regarding the strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct have been issued to the Administrative Secretaries of all the Departments, Deputy Commissioners and Political Parties.
The Photo Electoral Rolls prepared on the basis of January 1, 2019 as qualifying date and finally published on January 31, 2019 along with the supplements prepared under continuous updation thereafter will be used. As per finally published roll, there are 1,74,48,293 crore electors in the State out of which males are 93,97,153 and females are 80,51,140. Electoral Photo ID Cards (EPICs) are issued to 100 per cent electors, coverage of photo electors are 100 per cent. Presently 19,425 polling stations are there in the State out of which 5,494 falls in Urban and 13,931 in rural areas, at present no auxiliary polling station is there. Auxiliary polling station will be set up in case number of electors cross the allowed limit at a polling station.
First time in this State, VVPAT system will be used in all 10 Parliamentary Constituencies. VVPAT during last Assembly elections held in the year of 2014 were used in 13-Thanesar (Kurukshetra), 21-Karnal, 25-Panipat, 31-Sonipat, 62-Rohtak and 77-Gurgaon.
Since, EPIC have been issued to 100 per cent electors, therefore, as per Election Commission of Indias directions EPIC would be a compulsory document for identification of elector during election. In case of such electors who do not have their EPIC in their possession, they are advised to contact immediately to his Electoral Registration Officer concerned to get the EPIC. ECI has allowed other alternative identity documents, that is,Passport, Driving License, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Government, PSUs/Public Limited Companies, Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank Post Office, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA Job Card, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Pension document with photograph, Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAsIMLCs, and Aadhaar Card, can be used.
In order to maintain the Law and Order and to ensure free and fair elections, arrangement of security will be made in accordance with Election Commission of Indias directions. Further the Election Commission of India would appoint Expenditure Observers and General Observers to monitor the activity of expenditure, election, poll and Model Code of Conduct. Videography of all critical events including nomination, scrutiny, allotment of symbols, preparation of EVMs and their storage would be ensured by the Returning Officers. Polling parties will be formed through randomization as per Election Commission of Indias guidelines.
cVIGIL mobile app has also been launched under the directions of the ECI and complaints on violations of Model Code of Conduct can be uploaded on this App.
This time Commission has launched PwDs App which can be downloaded on android mobile through playstore/appstore. To avail this facility, PwD electors need to get himself/herself marked after downloading the App. Request for facility of vehicle, wheelchairs can be sent by uploading EPIC number on PwD App.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana has made an appeal to the citizens, Press and all interested political parties to cooperate with the Election Department for the peaceful and smooth conduct of Elections in the State. He further exhorted the electors in the State to cast their votes fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement.