The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared on Thursdays that all preparations have been made for conducting polls in elections to the 18th Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in two states on Friday, 19th April 2024. In tomorrow’s polls, the first of six Phases, voters in 102 Parliamentary Constituencies in 21 States/UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the State Assembly Elections in Arunachal and Sikkim will cast their votes.

ECI has reiterated that it remains committed to deliver a free, fair, peaceful, accessible, participative and inducement free poll, for which the Commission and its teams across States and Union Territories, have conducted numerous consultations, reviews, field visits, extensive training of officials and building of new and time appropriate operating procedures in the last two years in collaboration with a large spectrum of agencies, organisations countrywide.

The Commission comprising CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu gave final touches to poll preparations today at 12 noon for a smooth run of phase 1 of General Elections 2024, it informed and appealed “with all sincerity appealed to voters to step out of their homes, go to the polling station and vote with responsibility and pride.”

Facts of Phase-1

1. Polling for Phase-I of the General Elections 2024 and State Assembly Elections in Arunachal and Sikkim will be held on 19th April 2024 from 7AM and ends at 6 PM (Closure of Poll timings may differ PC wise).
2. Over 18 lakh Polling officials will welcome over 16.63 crore voters across 1.87 lakh polling stations
3. Voters include 8.4 crore Male; 8.23 crore Female 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. 1625 candidates (Males – 1491; Females-134) are in the fray.
6. 41 helicopters, 84 Special trains and nearly 1 lakh vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel.
7. Central forces have been deployed adequately at polling stations to secure the polling process.
   
8. Webcasting will be done in more than 50 % of the polling stations along with deployment of micro observers 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. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.
10. A total of 4627 Flying Squads, 5208 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 1374 inter-state and 162 international Border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.
12. There are over 14.14 lakh registered 85+ years old and 13.89 lakh PwD voters in 102 PCs who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes.
13. Those among 85 + and PwD voters and deciding 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 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 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 5000 Polling stations will be completely managed by women including security staff and at over 1000 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 https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/
18. The Commission has also provided 12 alternative documents other than 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
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 Commission’s Myth vs. Reality register available at https://mythvsreality.eci.gov.in/ and voters are requested to verify against these authenticated and credible resources before they amplify.
20. ECI KYC app and candidate affidavit portal (https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/) provides all details of contesting candidates including their assets, liabilities, educational background and criminal antecedents, if any for information of voters.