102 Lok Sabha seats, 16.63 crore voters: All you need to know about Phase 1 polls on April 19

Hyderabad: The elections to the 18th Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in four states are starting on April 19 with Phase 1.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) comprising CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu gave the final touches to poll preparations on Thursday for a smooth run of phase 1 of General Elections 2024. The remaining six phases of polls will continue till June 1 with around 97 crore voters lined up to vote. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.

Here are some of the important points about the phase 1 elections.

1. Polling for Phase-I of the General Elections 2024 will be held on April 19 for 102 Parliamentary Constituencies (General-73; ST-11; SC-18) in 21 States/UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the State Assembly Elections in Arunachal and Sikkim. It has the highest number of Parliamentary constituencies among all phases. Voting begins at 7 am and ends at 6 pm (Closure of poll timings may differ PC-wise).

2. Over 18 lakh polling officials will facilitate 16.63 crore voters across 1.87 lakh polling stations.

3. Voters include 8.4 crore males; 8.23 crore females and 11,371 third gender electors.

4. 35.67 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.51 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years.

5. 1,625 candidates (1,491 males, and 134 females) are in the fray.

6. 41 helicopters, 84 special trains and nearly 1 lakh vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel.

Maintaining peace, security

7. The commission has taken a slew of decisive measures for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections. Central forces have been deployed adequately at polling stations to secure the polling process.

8. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 per cent of the polling stations along with the deployment of microobservers in all polling stations.

9. 361 observers (127 general observers, 67 police observers, 167 expenditure observers) have already reached their constituencies days before the polls. They serve as the eyes and ears of the commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, special observers have been deployed in certain states.

10. A total of 4,627 Flying Squads, 5,208 Statistics Surveillance Teams, 2028 Video Surveillance Teams and 1255 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.

11. A total of 1,374 inter-state and 162 international border checkposts are keeping a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

Voter facilitation, support

12. There are over 14.14 lakh registered 85+ years old and 13.89 lakh PwD voters in 102 PCs who have been provided with the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. The optional Home Voting facility is already receiving tremendous appreciation and response.

13. Those among 85+ and PwD voters who decide to come to polling stations will be provided with all facilities like pick and drop facility, signages, braille signage on EVM, volunteers etc. PwD voters can also book wheelchair facilities via the ECI Saksham App.

14. Assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, can cast their vote with ease.

15. Model polling stations are being set up across the 102 PCs with local themes. More than 5,000 polling stations will be completely managed by women including security staff and at over 1,000 polling stations by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

16. Voter Information Slips have been distributed to all registered voters. These slips serve as a facilitation measure and also as an invitation from the commission to come and vote.

17. Voters can check their polling station details, and poll date through this link.

18. The commission has also provided 12 alternative documents other than a Voter ID card (EPIC) for identity verification at polling stations. If a voter is registered in the electoral roll, voting can be done by showing any of these documents.

Information for voters

19. Voters should guard against misinformation and fake news from influencing them or dissuading them from participating in these elections, especially against false narratives being peddled on social media. All questions, clarifications and misconceptions are clarified and addressed in the commission’s Myth vs. Reality project on the ECI website. Voters are requested to verify against these authenticated and credible resources.

20. The ECI KYC app and candidate affidavit portal provide all details of contesting candidates including their assets, liabilities, educational background and criminal antecedents, if any for information on voters.