Signature campaign promotes electoral participation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 05 2024:
In an effort to achieve maximum participation of electors in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2024, a signature campaign was launched from the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur on Friday.
The campaign aims to encourage all electors, with special focus on youth, to exercise their voting rights in a free, fair, and peaceful manner, without any external inducement or fear.
Various initiatives have been rolled out to promote ethical, informed, inclusive, and accessible voting practices.
Explainer videos and creatives on applications like C-Vigil, 1950 (toll-free number), Know Your Candidate (KYC), Saksham, and Voter Helpline have been widely circulated through multiple media platforms.
Large hoardings and posters providing information about empowering voters have been strategically installed across the state.
To further enhance awareness, TV and radio talks, as well as jingles have been utilised extensively with special efforts made to reach out to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in relief camps through conduct of awareness programmes.
The randomisation process of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) has been completed in all districts.
The second randomisation was carried out on Friday by respective Returning Officers in the presence of General Observers and contesting candidates or their authorised agents.
EVM/VVPAT commissioning has commenced across all districts, with 64 engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd deployed for the purpose.
Trainingsessions for polling personnel have been conducted, with the second round ongoing following the second randomisation.
General Observers, Police Observers, and Expenditure Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India have arrived to oversee the election preparations and conduct.
Special arrangements have been made for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with the identification of 94 Special Polling Stations across the state.
Distribution of ID Forms in relief camps shall facilitate seamless voting as a significant number has already been submitted.
Number of such special polling stations in different districts are eight in Imphal West (Inner-3; Outer-5), nine in Imphal East (I-5; O-4), 22 in Bishnupur (I-11; O-11), two in Thoubal (I-1; 0-2), five in Kakching (I-2; O-3), 15 in Churachandpur (I-2; O-13), 24 in Kangpokpi (I-4; O-20), four in Tengnoupal (I-1; O-3), one in Jiribam (Outer), and four in Ukhrul (outer) .
Regarding Postal Ballots, forms have been issued and received for different categories, including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), senior citizens, and service voters.
Model Polling Stations will be set up across the state, with a notable emphasis on women-managed polling stations and those managed by Polling Personnel belonging to the PwD category.
Altogether 118 Model Polling Stations will be set up across the state out of which 91 will be exclusively managed by women polling personnel.
There will be a total of 806 woman-managed polling stations and 4 polling stations will be exclusively managed by polling personnel belonging to PwD category.