Punjab Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu on Wednesday said that the elections to 22 Zila Parishad and 150 Panchayat Samitis in the State would be held on September 19.
With the announcement of the schedule, the model code of conduct has come into force immediately in the State.
Mr. Sandhu said that the process for filing the nominations would commence on September 4 and September 7 would be the last date for it.
Scrutiny on Sept. 10
Nominations will be scrutinised on September 10, while the date for withdrawal is September 11, he said, adding that election symbols will be allotted on September 11.
“The voting will be held on September 19 and the counting will take place on September 22,” Mr. Sandhu said. The voting will be held from 8 am to 4 pm, he added.
A total of 354 people will be elected to Zila Parishads, while 2,900 to Panchayat Samitis, he said.
Reservation for women
He said there will be 50 per cent reservation for women each in Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis.
There are 1,27,87,395 registered voters, comprising 60,99,053 females and 97 third genders, in the State as on January 1, 2018. An option of NOTA will also be provided to the voters, Mr. Sandhu said.
The Election Commissioner said no EVM would be used and the polling will be conducted only through the ballot paper system.
62,000 ballot boxes
A total of 62,000 ballot boxes have been arranged for the polling, he said.
When asked about electronic voting machines not being used in the polls, Mr. Sandhu said it has been a usual practice of conducting Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis elections though the ballot paper only. During the last polling also, which took place in May 2013, ballot papers were used, he said.
“There could be logistic problem if electronic voting machines are to be used,” he added.
With PTI inputs
