Countdown to Jubilee Hills bypoll: ECI reviews preparations; drones, webcasting for tight security

Hyderabad: As part of the security measures for the Jubilee Hills bypoll, drone surveillance is being deployed at all polling locations for centralised aerial monitoring and real-time situation analysis.

The District Election Officer, Hyderabad, reviewed the arrangements for the bypoll, scheduled for November 11, and said that all arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of polling, in compliance with ECI guidelines.

Transportation of EVMs using GPS-fitted vehicles

A total of 2,060 PO/APO/OPOs have been thoroughly trained and allocated for the polling process. The third randomisation process has been completed to conduct the elections in a completely non-partisan manner.

Each polling station will have four Ballot Units (BU), one Control Unit (CU) and one VVPAT. As many as 2,394 BUs, 561 CUs and 595 VVPATs, which include reserve quantity, have been tested and kept ready as per ECI guidelines.

Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Stadium, Yousufguda, has been designated as the Distribution, Reception and Counting (DRC) Centre. Adequate arrangements have been made for seamless distribution and collection at the location. As many as 38 counters are arranged for the dispatch of polling teams.

Transportation of EVMs using GPS-fitted vehicles will be continuously monitored from the control room. Any faulty polling equipment on the poll day will be replaced with functional reserve equipment, as per ECI guidelines.

Mobile phone deposit counters

All 407 polling stations at 139 locations will be on the ground floor with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) – drinking water, toilets, ramps, lighting and seating for voters, especially for senior citizens and PwDs. Separate queues and volunteers will be deployed for women, the elderly, and PwD voters.

Mobile phone deposit counters are being opened at all the polling stations to facilitate the voters to deposit their mobile before entering into polling station and to take it back after casting their vote

SVEEP activities

Targeted SVEEP campaigns were conducted in educational institutions and urban areas to tackle voter apathy and spread awareness that ‘Every Vote Counts.’ Special emphasis was placed on bridging the gap in the 18–19-year age group, encouraging all first-time voters to participate.

Along with awareness sessions at colleges, community halls, supermarkets, etc., initiatives such as flash-mob, 2K run, display of EVM / VVPAT replicas, and large balloons were also taken up to encourage voter participation.

The Voting Trend Module of ECINET will be updated promptly after polling. Regular press notes and verified updates will be issued to counter misinformation

Webcasting for real-time monitoring

The Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, is deploying striking forces under Police Bandobust to arrange sufficient security at all the polling stations and mobile squads to monitor the law and order so as to ensure the peaceful conduct of the poll. CRPF is deployed in 68 polling station locations.

Webcasting is arranged at all polling stations for real-time monitoring.

For the first time, drone surveillance is being deployed at all polling locations for prompt monitoring and real-time situation analysis.

All the voters who are within the polling location premises before 6 pm will be allowed to cast their vote. Adequate arrangements have been made for free and fair, transparent and safe polling, as per ECI guidelines, for the Jubilee Hills Assembly Constituency bye-election.

The 1950 helpline facility is available to call and lodge complaints.