The election campaign for the second phase of Lok Sabha general elections-2024 in the state has come to an end on Wednesday evening. Right before the end of the election campaign, the candidates gave their full strength in the election campaign. At the same time, as soon as the election campaign is over, booth management preparations for voting have started.
At the same time, preparations of the election department are also complete. In the second phase, the departure of polling parties from Thursday morning onwards for voting in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Baswada, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran Lok Sabha constituencies. Will be done from different places. These polling teams will complete all the preparations for voting by evening. After this, voting will take place the next day on Friday from 7 am to 6 pm.
Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that strong law and order arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent elections. More than 1.72 lakh polling personnel will conduct the voting in these areas. A total of 82,487 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting. Along with Rajasthan Police personnel, Home Guards, Forest Guards and RAC jawans have been deployed in these. 175 companies of Central Police Forces will also assist in law and order and security during voting. These companies have been deployed in sensitive areas. Flying squads, SST teams will be deployed in every Lok Sabha constituency for intensive checking and monitoring on the voting day. Additional monitoring teams will be deployed in polling stations that are sensitive in terms of election expenditure.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that a total of 2,80,78,399 voters are registered in these Lok Sabha constituencies, out of which 26,837 are service voters. There are 1,44,48,966 male, 1,36,02,272 female and 324 third gender voters registered in these areas. 8,66,325 new voters aged 18-19 years are registered.
The number of voters with disabilities is 3,22,829 and voters above 85 years of age are 3,01,742. Maximum 23,48,274 voters are registered in Pali. Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency has the least number of registered voters at 19,99,399.
152 candidates are in the fray for these 13 constituencies. Of these, 145 are men and 7 are women. Maximum 18 candidates are in Chittorgarh and least 7 candidates are in Jhalawar-Baran Lok Sabha constituency.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that live webcasting of the voting process will be done at 14,460 booths selected out of a total of 28,758 polling stations. These booths will be monitored through the control room.
A total of 34,931 ballot units, 34,931 control units and 37,329 VVPAT machines (including reserve) will be used in the polling work. In the second phase, voting will be held at 28,758 polling stations.
This includes 653 auxiliary polling stations including 4,778 urban, 23,327 rural. 1,768 special polling stations will be created to encourage voting. Of these, 832-832 polling stations will be operated by women and youth and 104 by disabled personnel.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that 3,000 sector officers have been deployed to monitor the voting process in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. These officers will immediately resolve any kind of problem by continuously coordinating with the polling parties. Bell engineers will also be present for quick resolution of technical faults in EVMs, who will reach the centers as soon as the information is received. Along with this, keeping in mind the convenience of the voters, other arrangements including ramps, drinking water, shade, wheelchairs and vehicles for elderly voters have been made at all the polling stations. Besides, volunteers have also been deployed at every polling station to assist the voters.
Gupta said that communication teams have been formed at the state and district levels for quick exchange of information on the day of voting. The officers and employees appointed in this team will compile information like the arrival of the polling parties at the polling stations, information about the mock poll, the commencement of voting thereafter, the percentage of voting etc. after discussing with the employees appointed at the polling stations. About 24,426 thousand small and big vehicles have been acquired in the districts related to the Lok Sabha constituencies voting in the second phase. These vehicles are being used to facilitate the movement of polling teams, security personnel, EVM machines and sector officers.
Quote: Live webcasting of the voting process will be done at 14,460 booths selected out of a total of 28,758 polling stations.
