A night before the polling for Assembly and parliamentary constituencies across the district, thousands of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) moved to their respective booths located in buildings of schools, colleges and other organisations by dusk on Wednesday.
The BLOs, presiding officers (POs), assistant POs (APOs) carried and set up the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) control units in their respective polling booths that are mostly classrooms before making arrangements for their sleepover close to the booths. Officials made necessary arrangements, including fogging to do away with mosquito menace, for the officers at the polling stations.
Earlier in the day, polling material was distributed at various locations, including IGMC Stadium, NSM Public School and others from where the polling staff reached the polling stations in and around the city by buses arranged by officials.
In all, there are 3,968 BLOs for the total 3,981 polling booths across the district. As many as 4,513 POs and 4,498 APOs will be presiding over the booths and 318 sector officers, 21 nodal officers and 1,515 micro observers will ensure smooth conduct of the polls, according to officials.
District Collector and District Election Officer A. Md. Imtiaz, while inspecting the distribution activity at a centre in the Vijayawada Central constituency, said that it is a great opportunity for the polling staff. He said all the material and officers had reached the polling stations and arrangements for webcasting and videography had been made.
Polling staff should begin working from 5.30 am on Thursday when the mock polling begins and have to continue up to late night till the EVMs and other material are submitted to the officials concerned.
Special gesture
Meanwhile, the officials have made special arrangements for specially abled (Persons With Disability) voters at all the polling booths. Ramps that enable free movement of wheelchairs and persons with disability or reduced mobility, physical functions, senior citizens, pregnant women and others had been set up. Wheelchairs would also be provided for PwD voters, but at many polling stations, no wheelchairs were arranged as of Wednesday evening.
