The
terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
and Puducherry are normally due to expire as follows:
Tamil
Nadu 22.05.2016
West
Bengal 29.05.2016
Kerala 31.05.2016
Puducherry 02.06.2016
Assam
05.06.2016
As per the established practice, the
Election Commission holds the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies
of the States whose terms expire around the same time, together.
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 States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry before
expiry of their present terms.
(1)
Assembly
Constituencies
The total number of Assembly Constituencies in the States of
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry 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: -
|
State
|
Total
No. of ACs
|
Reserved
for SC
|
Reserved
for ST
|
|
Kerala
|
140
|
14
|
02
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
234
|
44
|
02
|
|
West Bengal
|
294
|
68
|
16
|
|
Puducherry
|
30
|
05
|
--
|
|
Assam*
|
126
|
08
|
16
|
(*In Assam, territorial
determination of Assembly Constituencies is as per Delimitation of
Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976)
(2)
Electoral Rolls
The
electoral rolls of all the existing Assembly Constituencies in the
States/UT of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry have
been revised, with reference to 01.01.2016 as the qualifying date, and have
been finally published. As per the final rolls, the numbers of elector in these
States/UT are as following:
|
State
|
Date
of Publication
|
Total
No. of Electors in 2011
|
Total
No. of Electors in 2016
|
|
Assam
|
11.01.2016
|
1,81,45,914
|
1,98,66,496
|
|
Kerala
|
14.01.2016
|
2,29,40,408
|
2,56,08,720
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
20.01.2016
|
4,59,50,620
|
5,79,15,075
|
|
West Bengal
|
05.01.2016
|
5,60,91,973
|
6,55,46,101
|
|
Puducherry
|
11.01.2016
|
8,05,124
|
9,27,034
|
(a) Improvement in the health of the
electoral roll: The
Commission, after visiting the poll bound states/UT, had directed to conduct a
time-bound and systematic drive for the improvement in the quality and health
of their respective electoral rolls, so as to enhance their fidelity for the
conduct of free and fair elections. During the Special Electoral Roll
Purification Drive from 15th to 29th February, 2016, concerted focus was laid
on enrolment of all eligible voters, removal of repeated and multiple entries, removal
of the entries of dead voters (after due statutory procedure) correction of
various types of errors in EPICs and roll data. Wide ranging consultations were
also held with the various stakeholders and their valuable suggestions and
inputs were duly factored while undertaking the purification drive. This
exercise has improved the quality of the electoral rolls in a significant way.
(b) Photo Electoral Rolls
Photo electoral rolls will be
used during these general elections and photo percentages in Photo Electoral
Rolls of these States are as follows:-
|
States
|
Percentage of Photo
Electoral Rolls
|
|
Assam
|
97.90
|
|
Kerala
|
100
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
100
|
|
West Bengal
|
100
|
|
Puducherry
|
100
|
(c)
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 States are as under:-
|
States
|
Percentage of EPIC
|
|
Assam
|
93.85
|
|
Kerala
|
100
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
100
|
|
West Bengal
|
100
|
|
Puducherry
|
100
|
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.
(d) 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 bearing the Photo of the elector (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. The Commission has
laid a special emphasis on the systematic, efficient and timely distribution of
the Photo Voter Slips through the Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are under
strict instructions to hand over the voter slip to the elector concerned only
and not to any other person. The BLOs shall also maintain a Pre-Printed
Register of Voters and take the signatures/thumb impression of person to whom
the Photo Voter Slip is delivered. The residual undistributed Voter Slips shall
be kept at the Facilitation-desks set up outside each Polling Station on the
poll day. The distribution of Photo Voter Slips should be completed atleast 5
days before the date of poll and a very close and rigorous monitoring of the
distribution process shall be done by the DEO and General Observer concerned.
(3)
Polling
Stations and Special Facilitation
The
number of 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
in 2011
|
No. of Polling Stations
in 2016
|
% Increase
|
|
Assam
|
23,813
|
24,888
|
4.5
|
|
Kerala
|
20,758
|
21,498
|
3.5
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
54,016
|
65,616
|
21.5
|
|
West Bengal
|
51,919
|
77,247
|
48.7
|
|
Puducherry
|
815
|
913
|
12
|
(a) 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
(b)
Model Polling Stations:
In
order to enhance the quality of voting experience for the esteemed electors,
both in terms of the ease and comfort of voting, as well as their constructive
association with the voting process, the Commission has directed that, as far
as practicable, Model Polling Stations shall be set up in all the
constituencies of the poll bound states/UT. The Model Polling Stations envision
the enhancement in electoral participatory experience of the voters through a
three pronged strategy of improved physical structure and facilities of polling
premises, systematic and hassle-free queue management and courteous and polite
behaviour and conduct of the polling personnel.
(c)
Special Arrangement For Women and Differently abled Voters:
(i) Separate
Polling Station For Women: The Commission has directed that in areas where women
folk feel inhibited in mingling with male members because of some local custom
or social practice, a separate polling station for women can be provided after
getting approval of the Election Commission. Further, in big villages, if two
polling stations are to be provided for the village, one may be provided for
male electors and the other for female electors. In polling stations provided
exclusively for women electors, polling personnel also should normally be women.
When separate polling stations are provided for men and women of a particular
polling area, these should as far as possible be located in the same building
for general convenience.
(ii) Facility
Of Differently abled Electors: The Commission has issued instructions
to ensure that as far as practicable, all polling stations are located at
ground floor and sturdy ramps are provided for the convenience of differently
abled electors with wheel-chairs. Also, it has been directed that differently
abled electors are given priority for entering polling booths, provision for
designated parking spaces close to the entrance of polling premise and special
care to be provided to electors with speech and hearing impairment. Special
focus has been laid for the sensitization of the polling personnel regarding
the unique needs of the differently abled.
(iii)
Facility For Blind Schools: The Commission has instructed that, as
far as practicable, separate auxiliary polling station will be set up inside
the Blind Schools for ease and facilitation of the inmates and staff.
(iv) Polling
Station For Voters Suffering From Leprosy: The Commission has directed that if a leprosy sanatorium
is located within the constituency, then, if possible, a separate polling
station may be set up for the inmates and staff working in the sanatorium.
(4)
Deployment
Of Polling Personnel 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 personnel and Home guards also, who are deployed
at the polling stations on the poll day.
(5)
Electronic
Voting Machines (EVMs)
The poll in these States and UT of
Puducherry 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 assembly constituency-wise allocation. 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, 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.
(a) Mock Poll: As per the Commission's instructions, a
Mock Poll shall be conducted by the Presiding Officer at each Polling Station
before the commencement of actual polling in the presence of the Polling Agents
set up by the contesting candidates and a Certificate of successful
conduct of the Mock Poll shall be made by the Presiding Officer. Immediately
after the conduct of Mock Poll, the CLEAR Button shall be pressed on the
EVM and the fact that no votes are recorded in the Control Unit shall be
displayed to the Polling Agents present. The Commission has issued directions
for ensuring proper training to all the polling personnel regarding the
conduct of Mock Poll, as well as to create awareness amongst the political
parties, contesting candidates, their polling agents and other stakeholders
about the Mock Poll process.
(b)
None Of The Above (NOTA) 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.
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. For
the first time, the Commission has provided a new symbol for the NOTA option,
which was designed by National Institute of Design (NID). This new symbol will
facilitate the voters in casting of their votes.
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 provision of NOTA and its symbol.
(6)
VVPAT (
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
VVPAT will be used in all the five poll
going states as per the details in the table below:
|
States
|
No. of ACs with VVPAT deployment
|
|
Assam
|
10
|
|
Kerala
|
12
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
17
|
|
West Bengal
|
22
|
|
Puducherry
|
3
|
VVPATs will be used in a total of 14,066
polling stations across the 5 poll-bound states/UT and the List of Assembly
Constituencies in each State where VVPAT will be used in the forthcoming
elections is placed at “Annexure VI”.
(7)
Photographs
Of Candidates On Ballot Paper
In order to
facilitate the electors in identifying the candidates, the Commission has
prescribed an additional measure by way of adding provision for printing the photograph of candidate also on the ballot to
be displayed on the EVM (Ballot Unit) and on Postal Ballot papers. This will
also take care of likely confusion when candidates with same or similar names
contest from the same constituency. For this purpose, the candidates are
required to submit to the Returning Officer, their recent Stamp Size photograph
as per the specifications laid down by the Commission. Many of the poll-bound
states will be using the photograph of the candidates on the ballot papers for
the first time. Instructions have also been issued to ensure necessary
publicity of this instruction.
(8)
Affidavits
Of candidates – All Columns To Be Filled In:
In pursuance to 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.
The Commission has enabled e-filing of Affidavits
and expenditure statements
to be lodged by candidates. Further, trained Election Commission Return
Preparers will be available in each district to assist candidates in e-filing
of affidavits and abstract statements and such expenses will be borne by the
Commission
(9)
District
Election Management Plan (DEMP)
The
District Election Officers have been asked to prepare a comprehensive district
election management 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.
(10) 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 Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
and Puducherry 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 the States/UT and make suitable alternate arrangements in the communication
shadow areas by providing Satellite Phones, Wireless sets, Special Runners etc..
(11) 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 Assam, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and will be applicable to all
candidates, political parties and, the State Governments of Assam, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pudducherry. The Model Code of Conduct shall also
be applicable to the Union Government insofar as announcements/policy decisions
pertaining. for these States/UT is 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 inadequate understanding/interpretation.
The governments of the poll-bound States/UT have also been directed to ensure
that no misuse of official machinery/position is done during the MCC period.
(12) Videography/ Webcasting
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 nomination papers and scrutiny thereof,
allotment of symbols, First Level Checking, preparations and storage of
Electronic Voting Machines, important public meetings, processions etc. during election
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.
(13) Law And Order, Security Arrangements And
Deployment Of Forces
Conduct of elections involves elaborate
security management, which includes not just the security of polling
personnel, polling stations and polling materials, but also the overall
security of the election process. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are
deployed to supplement the local police force in ensuring a peaceful and
conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair and
credible manner. Keeping all this in mind, the very designing of the poll
schedule, 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
shall be deployed well in advance for area domination, route marches in
vulnerable pockets, point patrolling and other confidence building measures to
re-assure and build faith in the minds of the voters, especially those
belonging to the weaker sections, minorities etc. In the LWE areas, CAPF shall
be inducted well in time for undertaking area familiarization, hand-holding
with local forces and standard protocols regarding IEDs and de-mining/Road
Opening and other activities in the LWE areas will be strictly adhered to. The CAPF/SAP
shall also be deployed in the Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies and other
vulnerable areas and critical polling stations as per the assessment of
ground realities by the CEO of the State, in consultation with the various
stakeholders. On the Poll-eve, the CAPF/SAP shall take position in and
control of the respective polling stations and will be responsible for
safeguarding the polling stations and for providing security to the electors
and polling personnel 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 CEOs will ensure a day-to-day
monitoring of the activities and deployment of the CAPF/SAP in the states/UT
to optimize the usage and effectiveness of these forces for conducting peaceful
and transparent elections and inform the Commission periodically. Further, the
entire force deployment in the assembly segments shall be under the oversight
of the Central Observers deputed by the Commission.
The Commission lays a special
emphasis on 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 Electors Of SC/ST And Other
Weaker Sections:
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. In order to
bolster the confidence of the voters hailing from vulnerable sections
especially SC, STs etc and enhance their conviction and faith in the purity and
credibility of the poll process, CAPF/SAP shall be extensively and vigorously
utilized in patrolling such areas, conducting route marches and undertaking
others necessary confidence building measures under the supervision of the
Central Observers.
(15) 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. The functioning and operations of the Flying Squads/Mobile
Teams shall be closely monitored using GPS Tracking.
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.
Some new initiatives taken by the
Commission to strengthen the Expenditure Monitoring mechanism are:
(a)
Modification of the Standard Operating Procedure
for Seizure and release of cash: To avoid inconvenience
to common people with genuine need for carrying cash, the Standard Operating
Procedure for seizure of cash and release has been modified. An appellate body
will be in place in every district to attend to petitions from the public. The
Committee will suo motu examine each case of seizure by the Police or Flying
Squad or Static teams and in suitable cases immediate steps will be taken to
release the same.
(b) Donations
received by candidates- to be in cheques or Drafts: The
Commission has directed that candidates should not receive any loan or donation
exceeding Rs. 20,000/- in cash and all such donations or loans are to be
received by cheque or draft or through banking channels only.
(c) Accounting
of the expenditure incurred for campaign vehicles – on the basis of permissions
granted: It came to the notice of the Commission that
the candidates take permission from the Returning Officer for use of vehicles
for campaign purpose, but some candidates do not show the vehicle hiring
charges or fuel expenses in their election expenditure account. Therefore, it
has been decided that unless the candidate intimates the R.O. for withdrawing
the permission, the notional expenditure on account of campaign vehicles will
be calculated based on the number of vehicles for which permissions is granted
by the Returning Officer.
(d) Filing
of part statement of Election Expenditure by Political parties in 30 days:
The political parties will be required to file a part expenditure statement in
respect of the lump sum payments made to the candidate, within 30 days after
declaration of results.
(e) Account
Reconciliation Meeting: In order to reduce litigations
relating to expenditure accounts, a reconciliation meeting will be provided
before final submission of the accounts, on the 26th day after the
declaration of the results.
(16) Media Coverage And 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 Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry 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.
(17) Systematic Voters' Education and
Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
Comprehensive
measures for voters’ education were taken up during the Special Roll Revision process
in the states. These measures will continue and will be further augmented
during the electoral process.
10% of the
lowest turnout Polling Stations in each district have been identified and
possible reasons for the lower turnout analyzed. KABBP (Knowledge, Attitude,
Behaviour, Belief and Practices) survey has also been undertaken by the Chief
Electoral Officers and interventions based on the findings have been taken up.
Chief Electoral Officer
of the States have been directed to ensure wide dissemination of election
related information as well as adequate facilitation measures for ensuing wider
participation of people in polling. Model polling stations will be set up in
each of the assembly constituencies. Voter helplines, Voters’ Facilitation Centres,
web and SMS based search facilities are active for assistance of voters.
Reminder services on poll days have been meticulously planned. There are
special facilities in place for persons with disability.
As per the directions
of the Commission, Booth Awareness Groups shall be activated at
the Polling Stations for educating the Voters and motivating them for informed
and ethical voting.
(18) Deployment Of Central Observers:
a.
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. The Observers will fix a suitable time
every day for meeting the political parties, candidates and other stakeholders
to redress their election related grievances.
b.
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.
c.
Expenditure
Observers.
The Commission has also
decided to appoint adequate number of Expenditure Observers and Assistant
Expenditure Observers who will exclusively monitor the election expenditure
of the contesting 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.
Comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the
election expenditure of the candidates have been separately issued by the
Commission and are available at ECI website <www.eci.nic.in >.
d.
Micro
Observers
As per the extant
instructions, the General Observers will also deploy Micro-Observers, from
amongst Central Government/PSUs Officials, to observe the poll proceedings on
the poll day in critical/vulnerable polling stations. Micro-Observers will
observe the proceedings at the polling stations on the poll day, right from the
conduct of mock poll, to the completion of poll and the process of sealing of
EVMs and other documents so as 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 regarding any vitiation of
the poll proceedings in their allotted polling stations.
e.
Awareness
Observers:
Awareness
Observers from Central Government are also being appointed to observe the SVEEP
programme carried out during the election period for assessing the level of
facilitation, information and motivational programmes at the field level.
(19) 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.
(20)
Complaint Redressal Mechanism
– Call Center And Website Based
The 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 the State by the Chief
Electoral Officers 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.
(21) New IT Applications To Be Used For Forthcoming
General Elections:
(a) Redressal Arrangements
This application shall be
provided so that the people / political party can lodge their complaints on the
common platform for all complaints received from all sources. Mobile app shall
be made available for the people so that they can submit complaints with
photographs / videos on the common platform. SMS is sent to complainant on
receipt / disposal of complaint. Complainant can track status and view ATR
online through the android App.
(b)Single
Window System
A single window system for giving
election related permissions/clearances within 24 hours has been created. In
this system, Candidates and Political Parties can apply for permissions for
Meetings, Rallies, vehicles, temporary election office, loudspeakers etc at a
single location, where back-end convergence of various authorities/departments
has been done. This system is put in place at every RO level in each
sub-division which will provide for applying, processing, granting and
monitoring permissions in a synergistic manner. However, in case of permissions
for Helicopter usage/landing and use of helipads, the application shall have to
be submitted atleast 36 hours in advance.
(c) Vehicle
Management System
It is a
Vehicle Management System with the facility of
Issuance of requisition letters for vehicles, Capturing of vehicle details with
address, mobile number and bank details of Owner & Driver, Transfer of
vehicles from one district to another district etc.
(d) Use of webcasting / CCTV at polling stations:
Webcasting at
selected distant polling stations for LIVE monitoring of election
process, to keep a check on illegal activities such as booth capturing, money
distribution and bogus voting and to bring about complete transparency in the
voting process shall be done. Further, during the election process, CCTV
monitoring and webcasting shall also be done at various border check-posts, check-nakas
and other sensitive and critical locations across the constituencies to keep a
strict vigil on any nefarious activities designed to vitiate the electoral
process.
(e) Polling
/ Police Personnel Deployment Plan
This application will be used
for creating database of Police / Polling personnel, generation of command /
appointment letters, sending SMS regarding deputation / training, tagging of
patrolling party with force, generation of application for postal ballot,
formation of polling party / police party after randomization, for sending
polling personnel / police force from one district to another district etc.
(f) Voter Centric
Information Dissemination Initiatives:
It is the
constant endeavour of the Commission to facilitate the voters across the
country in accessing the multifarious election related services and
information. As part of this vision, an SMS Based search facility and Voter
Friendly Interactive Website has already been launched and successfully
working.
(22)
Poll Day Monitoring
System
A constant and stringent 24-hour monitoring of the
critical events and activities of the poll day shall be done using the Poll Day
Monitoring System. All the crucial events like reaching of Polling Parties, PS
Image, Votes Cast, Voters’ Images etc shall be captured and monitored using
this state-of-the-art IT application, which has the added advantage of being
used offline also, so as to circumvent non-connectivity of network. All data captured
offline is synchronized with the centralized server as soon as the person using
the App comes in the coverage area. Through this App, we can find out Voter
Turnout (VTR) gender-wise, age-wise and section-wise. Improvement of quality of
image in the roll can also be done through this App as we get the recent colour
photograph of the voter against old / bad quality photograph in the roll.
(23)
Schedules of Election
The Commission has prepared the Schedules
for holding General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry after taking into consideration all
relevant aspects, like the climatic conditions, academic calendar, major 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 in-depth assessment of other relevant ground realities.
The Commission after considering all
relevant aspects has decided to recommend to the Governors of the State of
Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
to issue notifications for the General Elections to their respective states under
the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as per
the schedule annexed.
ANNEXURE – I
Schedule for holding General Elections to the Legislative Assembly
of Assam.
|
S. No.
|
Poll
Event
|
1st Phase
( 65 ACs)
|
2nd Phase
( 61 ACs)
|
|
1.
|
Issue of Notification
|
11.03.2016
(FRI)
|
14.03.2016
(MON)
|
|
2.
|
Last date for making
Nominations
|
18.03.2016
(FRI)
|
21.03.2016
(MON)
|
|
3.
|
Scrutiny of Nominations
|
19.03.2016
(SAT)
|
22.03.2016
(TUE)
|
|
4.
|
Last date for withdrawal of
candidature
|
21.03.2016
(MON)
|
26.03.2016
(SAT)
|
|
5.
|
Date of Poll
|
04.04.2016
(MON)
|
11.04.2016
(MON)
|
|
6.
|
Counting of Votes
|
19.05.2016 (THU)
|
19.05.2016 (THU)
|
|
7.
|
Date before which election
process shall be completed
|
21.05.2016 (SAT)
|
21.05.2016 (SAT)
|
*Details of ACs going to poll during the
two phases enclosed.
Click here to see Annexure :
Election Commission of
India
New Delhi : 04th
March ,2016
RM/ RS