Haryana Assembly Elections

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. S.S. Sandhu, thoroughly reviewed the poll preparedness for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Haryana during a meeting held in Chandigarh.

The current term of the Haryana State Assembly is set to expire on November 3, 2024, with elections scheduled for 90 Assembly Constituencies, including 73 General and 17 reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).

During the Commission’s two-day review visit, representatives from several national and state political parties, including Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, Indian National Lok Dal, and Jannayak Janta Party, met with the Commission.

The primary concerns raised by these political parties included:

Ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections, with strict action against the misuse of government machinery.
Deployment of adequate central forces at sensitive polling stations.
Updating the electoral roll to remove deceased and relocated voters, particularly in Panchkula.
Reducing the distance between polling stations and enhancing facilities for elderly and women voters.
Relocating party polling desks from 200 meters to 50 meters from the polling station entrance in urban areas.
Addressing concerns regarding the accessibility of election Observers for timely grievance redressal.
Timely sharing of voter lists with candidates immediately after the nomination deadline.
Providing advance notice to political parties and candidates when polling teams visit electors for home voting.
Increasing the expenditure limit for candidates in the assembly elections.

The Commission assured the political party representatives that their suggestions and concerns have been noted. It emphasized its commitment to conducting free, fair, participative, inclusive, peaceful, and inducement-free elections in the state.

Political parties were encouraged to actively participate in the ongoing second Special Summary Revision process to update the electoral rolls ahead of the elections.

For the first time in the Haryana State Assembly Elections, senior citizens over 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with a 40% benchmark disability will have the option to vote from home.

This home voting facility is optional, and those who prefer to vote in person at the polling station will receive necessary assistance.

.Application form 12D is distributed and collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) within five days of the notification, from electors who opt for this facility.

The entire process is videographed, and representatives of political parties and candidates are involved throughout the home voting process.

Moreover, the Commission conducted a comprehensive review with District Election Officers (DEOs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), Divisional Commissioners, and Inspectors General of Police (IGs) on various aspects of election planning and execution.

The discussions covered a wide range of topics including electoral rolls, Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) management, logistics, polling station rationalization and infrastructure, training of election staff, seizure protocols, law and order, and voter awareness and outreach initiatives.

haryana voting — Pic For Representation Purposes Only

Additionally, the Commission engaged in discussions with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the State Police Nodal Officer on administrative, logistical, law and order, and other election-related preparations.

Prior to the detailed review with DEOs and SPs, the CEO of Haryana provided an overview of election management, including updates on the ongoing second Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls in the state, with July 1, 2024, as the qualifying date.

The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on August 27, 2024, and will be provided to all recognized political parties at no cost.

The Commission also met with the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to assess overall poll preparedness and law and order arrangements.

During the review, the CEO, DEOs, and SPs presented detailed reports to the Commission, which are summarized as follows:

ELECTORS

The CEO of Haryana informed the Commission that, as per the draft electoral roll published on August 2, 2024, during the ongoing second Special Summary Revision (SSR) in the state, a total of 2.01 crore electors are registered.
This includes approximately 1.06 crore male and 0.95 crore female electors.
The state has also registered over 4.52 lakh first-time voters aged 18-19 years, 2.55 lakh senior citizens aged 85 and above, and 1.5 lakh Persons with Disabilities (PwD) voters.
Notably, more than 10,000 voters are over 100 years old. The final electoral roll will be published on August 27, 2024.

POLLING STATIONS

During the review, CEO Haryana provided an overview of the polling station arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections.
A total of 20,629 polling stations will be set up, marking an increase of 817 stations compared to the 2019 Assembly elections.
Of these, 13,497 polling stations will be in rural areas and 7,132 in urban areas, with an average of 977 voters per station.
To promote voting among key demographics, 125 polling stations will be managed exclusively by women, and 116 will be managed by youth (young employees).
Additionally, one polling station in each Assembly Constituency (AC) will be manned by persons with disabilities.
The CEO also highlighted that, exceeding the Election Commission of India’s directive to webcast at least 50% of polling stations, webcasting will be conducted at 100% of polling stations wherever feasible.

CEO Haryana informed that, to enhance voter participation in urban areas, districts have identified high-rise societies, covered campuses, and slum clusters for the establishment of polling stations.

This strategic placement aims to facilitate easier access to voting, thereby encouraging greater voter turnout in these specific areas.

ASSURED MINIMUM FACILITIES AT POLLING STATIONS

All District Election Officers (DEOs) assured the Commission that polling stations across the state will be equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) to ensure voter convenience.
These facilities will include ramps for accessibility, drinking water, toilets, electricity, sheds, and chairs, ensuring a comfortable and accessible voting experience for all electors.

TECHNOLOGY SET UP

District Election Officers (DEOs) have announced the use of a suite of IT applications designed to streamline the electoral process for all stakeholders, including voters and political parties.

These applications aim to increase transparency, efficiency, and fairness in the electoral process.

cVIGIL: This mobile application empowers citizens to report any electoral violations or malpractices they witness. The app is user-friendly, ensuring that complaints can be lodged easily and anonymously. Once a complaint is registered, flying squads are dispatched to investigate and address the issue. The app guarantees a response within 100 minutes, promoting prompt action against electoral misconduct.
SUVIDHA: This is a single-window application designed to facilitate candidates’ requests for various permissions, such as booking meeting halls, grounds for political rallies, and other campaign-related activities. The app ensures a fair process by handling requests on a first-come, first-served basis, without any discretionary influence, thereby contributing to a level playing field for all candidates.

These applications represent a significant technological advancement in election management, aiming to uphold the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

The latest review meeting by the Election Commission has outlined several crucial measures to ensure fair and transparent elections:

KYC (Know Your Candidate) App: This app aims to promote an informed electorate by providing details about candidates’ criminal backgrounds, assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications.
Saksham App: Designed specifically for voters with disabilities, this app offers features such as requesting pick-and-drop services, wheelchair assistance, and volunteer help at polling booths to ensure a smooth voting experience.
Directions for DEOs and SPs:
- Impartiality and Accessibility: DEOs and SPs are instructed to act impartially and ensure a level playing field, with regular meetings and prompt resolution of complaints from all political parties.
- Polling Station Facilities: Ensure that polling stations are accessible, including ramps, wheelchairs, and volunteers for elderly and PwD voters. All polling stations must be on the ground floor and within 2 km of voters’ residences.
- Observer Accessibility: Observers should be accessible to all parties and voters, with their contact information publicly available.
- Social Media Monitoring: DEOs and SPs are tasked with monitoring social media for fake news and taking legal action when necessary.
Directions for Enforcement Agencies:
- Coordinated Efforts: Enforcement agencies are directed to work together to prevent the inflow of illicit liquor, cash, and drugs, with specific route maps for monitoring.
- Action Against Inducement: Strict action is to be taken against those involved in the distribution of illicit substances. Coordination and intelligence sharing among agencies are emphasized.
- CCTV Monitoring: Critical check posts on interstate borders will have 24×7 CCTV surveillance.
- Banking and Financial Monitoring: Cash transfers should only occur in designated vehicles during specified hours. Unscheduled chartered flights and online cash transfers through wallets will be closely monitored.

The Commission has expressed a zero-tolerance stance on the use of money power in elections and is committed to a clean, inducement-free electoral process.