The D-day has come. Himachalis are going to seal the fate of political parties in the EVM machines and in ballot boxes. Voting for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held on 12 November i.e., Saturday. Votes will be cast from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the same time, the campaigning for the elections ended on Thursday.
5592828 voters will decide the fate of 412 candidates in the state’s polling on November 12. Out of a total of 5592828 voters, 67559 are service voters, 22 are overseas Indian voters, 5525247 are general voters, and 38 are third-gender voters.
The number of female voters in the state is higher than that of male voters. There are 2737845 females, 2854945 males, and 38 third-gender voters in the state. At the same time, although the Election Commission has issued photo identification cards to all voters in the state, even if a voter does not have a photo identification card, he will be able to cast a vote by showing one of 12 alternate photo identification cards.
On the other hand, this time in the state assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party is also in the fray, challenging the BJP-Congress. Due to this, in most places, there will be a triangular contest or a multi-cornered contest.
In the event that an electoral photo identity card is not available, these 12 alternative photo identity documents must be submitted.
Aadhar card, MNREGA job card, Passbook with photo issued by banks or post offices, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labor, Driving licence, pan card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian passport, pension document with photo, service identity card with photo issued by central or state government, public undertaking, or public limited company to their employees, government identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, and Assembly Council Members, The Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and passport will have to be shown to the migrant voter.
Those overseas voters who are registered in the electoral rolls under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, on the basis of the particulars in their passports, have to produce the original passport for voting in the Assembly elections.
Women workers will provide services at 157 polling stations in Himachal Pradesh, and 7881 polling stations have been set up as part of the Vidhan Sabha elections. There are 7235 in rural areas and 646 in urban areas. Apart from this, three auxiliary polling stations have been set up at Sidhbari, Bada Bhangal, and Dhillon. 157 polling stations in the state will be manned entirely by female personnel. That is, as a result of voting in this, the entire security responsibility will be handled by female employees and jawans.
There will be a public holiday in the state. Under this, employees working in government offices, boards, corporations, educational institutions, and industrial complexes will have a public holiday so that they can exercise their franchise. Apart from this, it will also be a paid holiday for daily wage workers, payable under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Employees working in different parts of the state will be given special casual leave on this day so that they can vote by going to their assembly constituency. For this, they will have to produce the specified certificate related to voting from the presiding officer.
In view of the elections, the vigil on the state’s borders has been increased. The police force has been deployed everywhere so that no anti-social elements enter the state to influence the elections and that the elections can be conducted in a transparent manner.
Friday and Saturday, i.e., November 11 and 12, have been declared as dry day in Himachal Pradesh. In such a situation, orders have been issued to keep all liquor shops closed in the state till the elections are over.
67 companies of the CRPF have been deployed for the Himachal Assembly elections. These poll workers have been deployed at sensitive and vulnerable polling stations, including in border areas of the state. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dalip Negi said that all preparations have been made to make the elections fair and transparent.
For the conduct of elections in the state, 11880 personnel of the Himachal Police and 8381 personnel of the Home Guard have been deployed. Apart from this, 31536 employees have been deployed at various polling stations to conduct elections in the state.
