As the election fever reaches its peak, the Election Commission has finalised all arrangements for the upcoming polls across 126 assembly constituencies. With campaigning wrapping up, the focus now shifts to the ground where technology and security take centre stage.
The stage is set for over 2.5 crore voters to decide the fate of 722 candidates on April 9th. To ensure a transparent process, Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel has announced that all 31,490 polling stations will be under live webcasting surveillance. Beyond security, the Commission has prioritised voter comfort, introducing mobile phone storage, rest areas, and ramps at every centre.
A significant milestone has already been reached, with over 34,000 elderly and specially-abled citizens exercising their franchise from home via postal ballots. With 1.5 lakh polling personnel and over 43,000 VVPAT machines deployed, the administration is leaving no stone unturned for a smooth election.
Elaborate arrangements have been set in motion to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of polling in Puducherry tomorrow. The process of opening strong rooms storing electronic voting machines began this morning under tight security, and the dispatch of machines to polling stations across all constituencies is now underway.
The strong rooms at Women’s Engineering College, Motilal Nehru Government Polytechnic College, and Tagore Government Arts and Science College were opened around 8 AM today under tight security. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs are being dispatched to polling stations, with priority given to remote and far-flung areas.
Reserve EVMs have been kept ready under the custody of Returning Officers and are securely stored at designated locations, including Bahour and Nettapakkam. Tomorrow, reserve machines will be handed over to sector officers to address any technical issues. After polling, all used EVMs will be brought back and stored constituency-wise in the same strong rooms under strict security. Unused and defective reserve EVMs will be stored separately at secure locations in Puducherry, Mahe, and Yanam.
In Puducherry Polling arrangements have entered the final stage, with Electronic Voting Machines reaching polling stations across the region ahead of tomorrow’s elections. Booth-level preparations are now underway to ensure a smooth start to polling.
Electronic Voting Machines and VVPATs dispatched from six distribution centres in the union territory earlier in the day have begun arriving at polling stations, including those in remote and far-flung areas. EVMs and VVPATs are being transported to respective polling centres by buses, accompanied by armed police personnel. Polling personnel reached their respective booths and are engaged in setting up voting compartments, verifying machines, and completing statutory formalities.
All polling stations are being equipped with webcasting facilities and essential amenities such as drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchairs, electricity, medical kits, and temporary shelters. The election machinery remains on high alert, with reserve EVMs kept ready to handle any contingencies and ensure smooth, orderly, and peaceful polling across the Union Territory
Polling for all 140 Assembly constituencies in Keralam will be held in a single phase tomorrow. Authorities have tightened security and administrative measures to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling.
