State records 88.63 pc turnout in first phase
Re-poll recommended for some pockets where EVM were destroyed: CEO Agrawal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 01 2022:
The grand festival of democracy was celebrated across 38 assembly constituencies in the first phase of assembly elections, which ended peacefully on Monday with a record turnout of 88.63 per cent of the total of 12,09,439 voters, informed Manipur Chief Electoral Officer RajeshAgrawal.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the CEO said that rate of male voter turnout was 87.29 percent and female voters accounted for 89.96 per cent of the votes cast.
Not only females outnumbered the male electors in the gender ratio, but they also displayed more enthusiasm in the voter turnout as well, the statement said and added that participation of women has been overwhelming showcase of true women empowerment.
Aged, young ones, PwDs, women, transgender, first time voters, middle aged and electors of all age groups cast their votes, said Rajesh and noted that that IT applications used for booking of wheelchair and checking queue waiting time period at Polling Station was a true boon for PwD electors as around 176 wheelchairs were booked through it and were made available.
Special efforts were made to ensure hassle-free voting by elderly citizens and all arrangement were accordingly made, resulting in over 97 per cent of the 100-plus electors visiting the Polling Stations to exercise their adult franchise, he added.
The CEO further informed that 79 and 381 polling stations were earmarked as model and women polling stations respectively in Phase-I where the polling stations were colourfully decorated and voters had a mesmerizing voting experience.
First time voters, elderly voters, transgender and early voters were given special merchandise gift items by the polling teams, he said.
Over 90 per cent of the trans -gender voters enrolled also exercised their adult franchise.
In Imphal East district, each of them were given a certificate signed by DEO, he said.
CEO Rajesh also informed that a total of 247 out of 253 SoO cadres voted in 13 designated camps spread in Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Bishnupur and Kangpokpi districts.
The Commission (ECI) had directed special arrangements for their voting which were made at each of the polling stations for their voting through the postal ballot.
He also noted that all polling teams have safely returned to the reception centres and the EVM/VVPAT have been sealed in the Strong Rooms in presence of the observers and polling agents and were placed under three-tier security cover.
Presiding officers and EVM machines of 17 polling stations of 55-Tipaimukh constituency were airlifted from Jiribam.
It will now be opened only on the date of counting in the presence of the Election Agents.
Scrutiny of Form-17A and other election related documents has been carried out for all assembly constituencies that went to the polls by the returning officer and the observers in the presence of the candidates/election agents.
Nothing untoward has been observed for majority of the ACs, he added.
The statement also conceded that minor incidents were reported from few polling stations.
They were examined and found that none of tnem actually had any detrimental impact on the poll process and the votes polled are safely stored and secured in the machines.
However, stray incidents of damaged EVMs have been reported and re-poll has been recommended for those polling stations.
Adequate arrangement for COVID safe election was taken up during the polling, he added.
Scanning of each voter, provision of hand glove, adequate sanitizers, queuing system under COVID protocol, etc, have been a visual delight in the polling stations about the safety preparations under the Election Commission of India.
Voting by COVID suspects/positive person under strict COVID protocol by wearing PPE took place in the last hour of poll.
The bio-medical waste generated therein was systematically disposed as per the guidelines.
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