The terms of the Legislative Assemblies
of Haryana and Maharashtra are normally due to expire as follows:
Haryana : 27.10.2014
Maharashtra : 08.11.2014
By virtue of its powers, duties and functions under
Article 324 read with Article 172(1) of the Constitution of India and Section
15 of Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission is required to
hold elections to constitute the new Legislative Assemblies in the State of Haryana
and Maharashtra before expiry of their present term.
(1)
Assembly
Constituencies
The total number of Assembly Constituencies in the
States of Haryana and Maharashtra and seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes
and the Scheduled Tribes, as determined by the Delimitation Commission under
the Delimitation Act, 2002, are as under: -
|
States
|
Total No. of Assembly Constituencies
|
Reserved for SCs
|
Reserved for STs
|
|
Haryana
|
90
|
17
|
--
|
|
Maharashtra
|
288
|
29
|
25
|
(2)
Electoral Rolls
The Electoral Rolls of all
existing Assembly Constituencies in the States of Haryana and Maharashtra on
the basis of the electoral rolls revised with reference to 1.1.2014 as the
qualifying date have been finally published on 31.07.2014. The number of
electors in the States, as on 31.07.2014, is as under:
|
States
|
Total No. of Electors
|
|
Haryana
|
16158117
|
|
Maharashtra
|
82591826
|
(3)
Photo Electoral
Rolls
Photo electoral rolls will be used during
the forthcoming general elections and photo percentages in Photo Electoral
Rolls of these States are as follows:-
|
States
|
Percentage of Photo Electoral Rolls
|
|
Haryana
|
100
|
|
Maharashtra
|
91.30
|
(4)
Electors
Photo Identity Cards (EPIC)
Identification of the voters at the
polling booth at the time of poll shall be mandatory. Electors who have been
provided with EPIC shall be identified through EPIC. Presently, the EPIC
coverage in the State is as under:-
|
States
|
Percentage of EPIC
|
|
Haryana
|
100
|
|
Maharashtra
|
92.40
|
All the residual electors are
advised to obtain their Elector Photo Identity Cards from the Electoral
Registration Officers of their Assembly Constituencies urgently.
In order to ensure that no
voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the
Electoral Rolls, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional
documents for identification of voters, if needed.
(5)
Polling
Stations
Polling Stations in the poll going States
as on the date of final publication of electoral rolls are as follows:
|
States
|
No. of Polling Stations
|
|
Haryana
|
16244
|
|
Maharashtra
|
90403
|
For the facility of physically challenged
persons, instructions have been issued to ensure that all polling stations as
far as practicable, are located at ground floor and ramps are provided.
Facilitation shall also be provided for locating electors’ names in a polling
station or a group of polling stations through help lines and facilitation
centers.
(6)
Basic
Minimum Facilities (BMF) at Polling Stations
The Commission has issued instructions to
the Chief Electoral Officers of all
States to ensure that every Polling Station is
equipped with Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) like drinking water, shed, toilet,
ramp for the physically challenged voters and a standard voting compartment
etc.
(7)
Polling
Parties and Randomization
Polling parties shall be
formed randomly, through special application software. Three-stage randomization
will be adopted. First, from a wider district database of eligible officials, a
shortlist of a minimum 120% of the required numbers will be randomly picked up.
This group will be trained for polling duties. In the second stage, from this
trained manpower, actual polling parties as required shall be formed by random
selection software in the presence of General Observers. In the third
randomization, the polling stations will be allocated randomly just before the
polling party’s departure. There shall be randomization for such Police
Constables and Home guards also, who are deployed at the polling stations on
the poll day.
(8)
Electronic
Voting Machines (EVMs)
The poll in these States will be conducted
at all polling stations using EVMs. The Commission has already made
arrangements to ensure availability of adequate number of EVMs for the smooth
conduct of elections. The Commission has issued a new set of instructions with
regard to the First Level Check of EVMs, that will be used in the poll in these
States. The First Level Check of EVMs, has been done in the presence of
representatives of political parties. A two-stage randomization of EVMs will
be made. In the first stage, all the EVMs stored in the district storage centre
will be randomized by the District Election Officer (DEO) in the presence of
the representatives of the recognized political parties for allocation assembly
constituency-wise. EVMs will be prepared and set for elections after finalization
of the contesting candidates. At this stage also, candidates or their
agents/representatives will be allowed to check and satisfy themselves in every
manner about the functionality of the EVMs. After the EVMs in a constituency
are prepared for the poll by the Returning Officer and the ballot units are
fitted with ballot papers, then the EVMs will again be randomized to decide the
actual polling stations in which they will be ultimately used. The Second Stage
randomization will be done in the presence of Observers, Candidates or their
Election Agents.
(9)
None of the
Above (NOTA) Option in EVMs
In its judgment dated 27th
September, 2013 in Writ Petition (C) No. 161 of 2004, the Supreme Court has
directed that there should be a “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on the ballot
papers and EVMs. The Court has directed that the Commission should implement
it ‘either in a phased manner or at a time with the assistance of Government of
India’.
On the Balloting Unit, below the name of
the last candidate, there will now be a button for NOTA option so that electors
who do not want to vote for any of the candidates can exercise their option by
pressing the button against NOTA.
The Commission is taking steps to bring
this to the knowledge of voters and all other stakeholders and to train all
field level officials including the polling personnel about the NOTA option.
(10)
Affidavits
of candidates – all columns to be filled in
In pursuance of the judgment dated 13th
September, 2013 passed by the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No. 121 of
2008, which among other things makes it obligatory for the Returning Officer
“to check whether the information required is fully furnished at the time of
filing of affidavit with the nomination paper”, the Commission has issued
instructions that in the affidavit to be filed along with the nomination paper,
candidates are required to fill up all columns. If any column in the affidavit
is left blank, the Returning Officer will issue a notice to the candidate to
file the affidavit with all columns filled in. After such notice, if a candidate
fails to file affidavit complete in all respect, the nomination paper will be
liable to be rejected at the time of scrutiny. The Chief Electoral Officers
have been directed to brief all Returning Officers about the judgment of the
Supreme Court and the Commission’s instructions.
(11)
Communication
plan
The Commission attaches great
importance to preparation and implementation of a perfect communication plan at
the district/constituency level for the smooth conduct of elections and to
enable concurrent intervention and mid course correction on the poll day. For
the said purpose, the Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officers of
all the polling going states to coordinate with the officers of
Telecommunication Department in the State headquarters, BSNL/MTNL authorities,
the representatives of other leading service providers in the States so that
network status in the States is assessed and communication shadow areas be
identified. The CEOs have also been advised to ensure best communication plan
in their States.
(12)
Videography
All critical events will be
video-graphed. District Election Officers will arrange sufficient number of
video and digital cameras and camera teams for the purpose. The events for
videography will include filing of nominations, scrutiny thereof and allotment
of symbols, First Level Checking, preparations and storage of Electronic Voting
Machines, important public meetings, processions etc. during campaign, process
of dispatching of postal ballot papers, polling process in identified
vulnerable polling stations, storage of polled EVMs, counting of votes etc.
Webcasting, Videography and Digital cameras will also be deployed inside
polling booths wherever needed. CDs of video recordings will be available on
payment to anyone who wishes to obtain a copy of the same.
(13)
Law and Order
and Deployment of Forces
Conduct of elections involves elaborate
security management. It includes ensuring the security of polling personnel,
security at the polling stations, security of polling materials and also the
overall security of the election process. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are
deployed for area domination prior to poll in order to build confidence in the
minds of voters specially vulnerable voters viz. weaker section, minorities
etc. Keeping all this in mind, the very designing of the poll schedule, and
sequencing of multi-phase elections and choice of constituencies for each phase
had to follow the logic of force availability and force management.
The Commission has taken various measures to
ensure free and fair elections by creating an atmosphere in which each elector
is able to access the polling station without being obstructed or being unduly
influenced/intimidated by anybody.
Based on the assessment of the ground
situation, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and State Armed Police (SAP)
drawn from other States will be deployed during these elections. The CAPF and
SAP will be used generally for safeguarding the polling stations and for
providing security to the electors and polling personnel at the polling
stations on the poll day. Besides, these forces will be used for securing the
strong rooms where the EVMs are stored and for securing the counting centers
and for other purposes, as required.
The Commission has been
issuing instructions from time to time with regard to the advance preventive
measures to be taken by the District Magistrates and Police authorities to
maintain the Law & Order and to create atmosphere conducive for the conduct
of free and fair elections. The Commission will be constantly monitoring the
ground situation closely and will take appropriate measures to ensure peaceful,
free and fair polls in these States.
(14)
Protection
to SC/ST Electors
As per Section 3 (1) (vii) of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, whoever, not
being a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, forces or intimidates a
member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe not to vote or to vote for a
particular candidate or to vote in a manner other than that provided by law
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
six months but which may extend to five years and with fine. The Commission has
asked the State Governments to bring these provisions to the notice of all concerned
for prompt action.
(15)
General
Observers
The Commission will deploy General
Observers in adequate number to ensure smooth conduct of elections. The
Observers will be asked to keep a close watch on every stage of the electoral
process to ensure free and fair elections. Their names, addresses within the
district/constituency and their telephone numbers will be publicized in local
newspapers so that the general public can quickly approach them for any
grievance redressal. The Observers will be given a detailed briefing by the
Commission before their deployment. Commission may also deploy Police Observers
to keep a close watch on law & order situation.
(16)
Election
Expenditure Monitoring
Comprehensive instructions for
the purpose of effective monitoring of the election expenditure of the
candidates have been issued, which include formation of flying squads, static
surveillance Teams, video surveillance Teams, involvement of Investigation
Directorates of Income Tax Deptt. etc. State Excise Departments and police
authorities have been asked to monitor production, distribution, sale and
storage of liquor and other intoxicants during the election process.
For greater transparency and for ease of
monitoring of Election Expenses, Candidates would be required to open a
separate bank account and incur their election expenses from that very account.
The Investigation Directorate of Income Tax Dept. has been asked to open Air
Intelligence unit in the airports of these states and also to gather
intelligence and take necessary action against movement of large sum of money
in these states.
Expenditure Observers and Assistant Exp.
Observers from Central Government are being appointed to keep close watch on
election expenditure of the candidates. Control room and Complaint Monitoring
Centre with 24 hours toll free numbers shall be operative during the entire
election process. Banks and financial intelligence units of Government of India
have been asked to forward suspicious cash withdrawal reports to the election
officials.
All candidates must ensure
that they file their affidavits in the revised format (Form 26) only. The
revised format is available on the ECI website and in Returning Officer’s
handbook.
(17)
Paid News
To deal with the issue of ‘Paid News’, a
mechanism has been laid out with three tier of Media certification and
Monitoring Committees (MCMC) at District, State and ECI level. Revised
comprehensive instruction on ‘Paid News’ are available on the Commission’s
Website.
Necessary instructions have been issued to
the CEOs of the poll going states to ensure briefing of political parties and
Media in the districts about ‘Paid News’ and the mechanism to check ‘Paid News’.
The MCMCs of all states have been trained to do their job.
(18)
Police
Observers
The Commission may deploy IPS officers as
Police Observers in district level, in the poll going States depending upon the
need and sensitivity. They will monitor all activities relating to force
deployment, law and order situation and co-ordinate between civil and Police
administration to ensure free and fair election.
(19)
Micro
Observers
In addition to General
Observers, the Commission will also deploy Micro Observers to observe the poll
proceedings in the polling stations on the poll day in selected critical
polling stations. They will be chosen from Central Government/Central PSUs
officials. Micro-Observers will observe the proceedings at the polling stations
on the poll day right from the mock poll to the completion of poll and the
process of sealing of EVMs and other documents to ensure that all instructions
of the Commission are complied with by the Polling Parties and the Polling
Agents. They will report to the General Observers directly about any vitiation
of the poll proceedings in their allotted polling stations.
(20)
Systematic Voters’
Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
Comprehensive measures for voters’
education were taken up during the Special Roll Revision process in the poll
going states. These measures will continue during the electoral process. Chief
Electoral Officers of the poll-going states have been directed to ensure wide
dissemination of election related information and also for carrying out Voter
Education campaigns as well as adequate facilitation measures for ensuing wider
participation of people in polling.
Model polling stations will
also be set up in identified districts. Voter-helplines, Voters’ Facilitation Centres,
web and SMS based search facilities are active for assistance of voters. There
are special facilities in place for those, who are physically challenged or
have special needs.
(21)
Conduct of
Officials
The Commission expects all
officials engaged in the conduct of elections to discharge their duties in an
impartial manner without any fear or favour. They are deemed to be on
deputation to the Commission and shall be subject to its control, supervision
and discipline. The conduct of all Government officials who have been entrusted
with election related responsibilities and duties would remain under constant
scrutiny of the Commission and strict action shall be taken against those
officials who are found wanting on any account.
The Commission has already
given instructions that no election related official or Police officer of the
rank of Inspector and above shall be allowed to continue in his home district.
Besides, instructions have also been issued that election related officials
including police officials of Inspector level & above who have completed
three years in a district during last four years should be transferred out of
that district. Police officers of the rank of Sub Inspectors who have completed
three years in a Sub Division/Assembly Constituency or are posted in their home
sub division/assembly constituency shall be transferred out of that Sub
Division and the Assembly Constituency.
The Commission has also
instructed the State Governments not to associate any officer with the
electoral process against whom charges have been framed in a court of law in
any case.
(22)
District
Election Plan
The District Election Officers
have been asked to prepare a comprehensive district election plan in
consultation with SPs and Sector Officers including the route plan and
communication plan for conduct of elections. These plans will be vetted by the
Observers taking into account vulnerability mapping exercise and mapping of
critical polling station in accordance with Election Commission of India’s
extant instructions.
(23)
Model Code
of Conduct
The Model Code of Conduct
comes into effect immediately from now onwards. All the provisions of the Model
Code will apply to the whole of poll going States and will be applicable to all
candidates, political parties, the State Government of Haryana &
Maharashtra. The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to the Union Govt.
for the States concerned.
The Commission has made
elaborate arrangements for ensuring the effective implementation of the MCC
Guidelines Any violations of these Guidelines would be strictly dealt with and
the Commission re-emphasizes that the instructions issued in this regard from
time to time should be read and understood by all Political Parties, contesting
candidates and their agents/representatives, to avoid any misgivings or lack of
information or understanding/interpretation.
(24)
Photo Voter
Slips
To facilitate the voters to know where
he/she is enrolled as a voter at a particular polling station and what is
his/her serial number in the Electoral roll, the Commission has directed that
voter slip along with Photo (wherever present in the roll) will be distributed
to all enrolled voters by the District Election Officer. It has also been
directed that the said voter slip should be in the languages in which electoral
roll is published for that Assembly Constituency.
(25)
Complaint redressal
mechanism – Call Center and Website based
All poll going States shall
have a complaint redressal mechanism based on website and call center. The
number of call center is 1950, which is a toll free number. The URL of the
complaint registration website will be announced for each State by the
respective Chief Electoral Officer separately. Complaints can be registered by
making calls to the toll free call center numbers or on the web site. Action
will be taken within time limit on all complaints. Complainants will also be
informed of the action taken by SMS and by the call center. Complainants can
also see the details of the action taken on their complaints on the website.
(26)
Schedules of Election
The Commission has prepared the Schedules
for holding General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Haryana, Maharashtra
and for bye elections in Parliament and Assembly Constituencies after taking
into consideration all relevant aspects, like the Climatic conditions, Academic
Calendars, Festivals, prevailing law and order situation in the States,
availability of Central Police Forces, time needed for movement, transportation
and timely deployment of forces, and assessment of other ground realities.
The Commission after considering all
relevant aspects has decided to recommend to the Governors of the States, to
issue notifications for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of
the states of Haryana & Maharashtra under the relevant provisions of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Election Schedule for general
election to the Legislative Assemblies of Haryana & Maharashtra is appended
at Annexure ‘1-A’.
(27)
Bye-Election
to Parliamentary Constituency
(a) 39 Beed PC of Maharashtra - The
Commission has also decided to hold bye-election from 39-Beed Parliamentary
Constituency of Maharashtra The election schedule for 39-Beed PC is at Annexure
‘1-A’.
(b) 13 Kandhamal PC of Odisha - The Commission
has also decided to hold bye-election from 13-Kandhamal Parliamentary
Constituency of Odisha. The election schedule for 13-Kandhamal PC is at Annexure
‘1-B’.
(28)
Bye-Elections
to Assembly Constituencies
The Commission has also
decided to hold bye-elections from the following Assembly Constituencies as per
schedule mentioned at Annexure ‘1-A’.
|
Name of State
|
No. and name of Assembly Constituency
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
58-Kanubari (ST)
|
|
Manipur
|
38-Hiyanglam
|
|
Nagaland
|
11-Northern Angami-II (ST)
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
08-Kairana
|
|
Gujarat
|
69-Rajkot West
|
As for Bye elections in Parliamentary and
Assembly Constituencies, the Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with
immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the
Parliament or Assembly Constituencies going for bye-elections are included,
subject to partial modification as issued vide Commission’s instruction No.
437/INST/201/CC&BE, dated 26th April, 2012 (available on the
Commission’s website). The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to all
candidates, political parties and the State Government concerned. The Model
Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government in respect of
the district(s) / and Constituencies of the State concerned.
Election Commission of India
New Delhi, 12 September, 2014
RM//RS
ANNEXURE-1A
Schedule
A: Schedule for General Elections to the
Legislative Assemblies of Haryana
& Maharashtra
B: Schedule for bye-election from
39-Beed Parliamentary Constituency of
Maharashtra
C: Schedule for bye-elections from 58-Kanubari (ST)
AC of Arunachal Pradesh,
38-Hiyanglam AC of Manipur, 11-Northern Angami-II
(ST) AC of Nagaland, 69-Rajkot West of Gujarat and 08-Kairana AC of Uttar
Pradesh
|
Date of Issue
of Gazette Notification
|
Last Date for
Nominations
|
Date for
Scrutiny of Nominations
|
Last date for
withdrawal of candidatures
|
Date of poll if
necessary
|
|
20.09.2014 (Saturday)
|
27.09.2014 (Saturday)
|
29.09.2014 (Monday)
|
01.10.2014 (Wednesday)
|
15.10.2014 (Wednesday)
|
Date of Counting
:19.10.2014 (Sunday)
Date before which
elections shall be Completed : 22.10.2014 (Wednesday)
ANNEXURE-1B
Schedule
Schedule for bye-election from 13-Kandhamal
Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha
|
Date of Issue
of Gazette Notification
|
Last Date for
Nominations
|
Date for
Scrutiny of Nominations
|
Last date for
withdrawal of candidatures
|
Date of poll if
necessary
|
|
19.09.2014 (Friday)
|
26.09.2014 (Friday)
|
27.09.2014 (Saturday)
|
29.09.2014 (Monday)
|
15.10.2014 (Wednesday)
|
Date of Counting
: 19.10.2014 (Sunday)
Date before which
election shall be Completed : 22.10.2014 (Wednesday)