Arrangements in place for polls in Bidar

Over 1.1 million voters will cast their votes at 1,379 polling booths in the district on May 5.

“All preparations have been made to ensure free and fair polling,” P.C. Jaffer, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, told presspersons on Friday.

Polling in sensitive booths would be webcast through social media networks, and polling in all booths would be videographed, he said.

Micro-observers had been deputed to 400 booths, and a mobile application, developed by the National Informatics Centre, would alert them and senior officials if the polling percentage in a particular booth varies dramatically from the average. Of the booths in the district, 138 have been declared hypersensitive and 276 sensitive. Paramilitary forces would be stationed at these booths, and in polling stations which have more than three booths. Each booth would have four polling officers as well. Electronic voting machines would be tested before the start of polling.

Voter express

Special city buses would ferry voters to booths and back in Bidar. Voters would have to pay fares fixed by the NEKRTC. Similar services would be provided by 218 buses in rural areas.

Over 6,000 State government employees and nearly 900 Union government employees and service electors are eligible for postal ballots; but only around 4,500 have requested for them. They would be received till 8 a.m. on May 8, the day of counting.

There would be 80 sector magistrates and 96 executive magistrates overseeing polling. The police will keep vigil through 117 mobile units.

Violations

Election officials have booked 19 violations of the poll code of conduct, and seized Rs. 60 lakh in cash and 333 litres of liquor being illegally transported.

All political leaders and activists have been requested to leave the constituency in which are not voters, by Friday evening; candidates are exempted.

The Election Commission has stressed on the voter’s right to refrain from voting, under the Representation of People Act.

A person who does not want to vote, should inform the polling officer, Dr. Jaffer said.

Non-residents (absentee) or voters who have shifted from their constituency would be allowed to vote if their name is on the voters list.

They should produce EPIC or any other identity proof. Their thumb impression would be taken before polling. The EC has made efforts to deliver voting slips to voters. If someone was yet to receive it, the slips would be available with booth-level officers.