Lok Sabha 2024 general elections can be announced anytime - Haryana CEO
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 7, 2024 - Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal said that the Election Commission could announce the schedule of the general elections of the 2024 Lok Sabha anytime.
In this regard, all necessary arrangements related to the electoral process in Haryana are being completed. Adequate quantities of EVMs are available, and orders for tasks such as printing of ballot papers have been issued to the concerned department.
Anurag Agarwal was conducting a review meeting today with department officers regarding election management.
He said that the Election Commission aims to ensure that no voter is left out and everyone exercises their right to vote. For this, the first step is to ascertain one's name in the voter list. If the name is not included in the voter list, then Form-6 needs to be submitted online or manually to the concerned VLO, said Sh. Anurag Agarwal.
He said that if there are errors in the voter list or if names need to be removed or added due to death, shift, or transfer, then Form-7 and Form-8 need to be filled and submitted.
The Chief Electoral Officer stated that maximum voter turnout is desired, hence the Election Commission has launched a national campaign to raise awareness among voters.
Under this, special arrangements have been made at polling stations for Divyang and voters above the age of 85 years.He said that voters above the age of 85 years will be given the option to vote at the polling station or through postal ballot paper from home. District Election Office employees will take their preferences into account and make arrangements accordingly.
For this, such voters will have to give their consent in Form-12 and Divyang voters will have to give a certificate of 40 percent disability.. Anurag Agarwal said that as per the orders of the Election Commission, all Chief Electoral Officers of states and Union Territories are engaged in completing pre-poll activities.
Today, the Election Commission virtually held a meeting with all Chief Electoral Officers and enquired about the arrangements made at polling stations for Divyang and voters above the age of 85 years.
c-Vigil: Election Commission's Third Eye
To ensure compliance with the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha general elections in 2024, the Election Commission has introduced C-Vigil, which serves as the third eye of the Election Commission.
Any kind of malpractice can be reported and the identity of the reporter remains confidential. This app is very easy to use. Users are promised to receive status updates within a hundred minutes of using this app.
Any member of the public can report violations of the Model Code of Conduct by taking photos/audio/video through this app. This app can be downloaded from any app store.
Saksham App for Divyang Voters
To enable Divyang voters to exercise their voting rights correctly, the Election Commission has introduced the 'Saksham app'.
Through this app, Divyang voters can demand facilities such as wheelchairs, free transport, pick and drop services for voting. Through this app, as a Divyang voter, you can register by filling out Form 6, request for marking as a Divyang person by filling out Form 8, know your candidates, and know your polling station, etc.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer Hema Sharma and Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Raj Kumar and other officers remained present in the meeting.