State likely to have ‘Pink Booths’ for women

As per the Election Commission of India programme of the second special brief revision of electoral roll, the integrated draft electoral roll publication was done on Tuesday. Now it has been open for filling the claims and objections till August 21. The disposal of claims and objections would be done on September 20, said Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo.

He was briefing the media at State capital on Tuesday. He said that updating database and printing of supplementary electoral roll would be done before September 26 while the final publication would be done on September 27.

The electors can obtain the necessary formats regarding the electoral roll from the Commission portal www.nvsp.in through which online filing can be done along with necessary documents. The draft electoral roll has been uploaded in website.

CEO said that those having attained the age of 18 years not included in the list can through form 6 register their names. The form 7 can be used for transfer and deleting names of those died. Form 8 can be used for amendment in entry of electoral roll. He added that all political parties have been asked to appoint Booth level Agent. Directives have been given for registration of prominent personalities.

As per records, Male 9146099, female 9032505 and third gender 831 electors’ thus total 18179435 electors is in the draft electoral roll. The number of service electors is 11980 while additional overseas voter is 01. The electors having crossed 100 years have been certified and necessary official procedure is being undertaken. The Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are being identified and registered.

Sahoo urged the voters to check their names in electoral roll to avoid any unwarranted situation. He, further, said that there is increase in 1200 rural areas and 1400 in urban area after rationalisation. As per the year 2017, the number of polling booths was 23411, new proposed ones is 234 while deleted is 13, thus total increase is 221 while 223 polling booths have been shifted to new premises thus after rationalisation the total polling booths is 23632.

Sahoo, further, said that in Chhattisgarh general election in all the constituencies the VVPAT machines would be used. At present 35150 ballot units and 29300 control units have been obtained which has undergone the First Level Checking (FLC). The State is to receive 30435 VVPATs. The districts of Durg, Mahasamund, Balod, Raipur and Baloda Bazar had received it. The transportation for Bemetara and Kanker districts is in progress.

The VVPAT machine functioning and other aspects would be displayed for the common man at polling centre, villages, Haat-bazar, cinema hall, and in urban area through mobile van, he said. The entry of data for the polling personnel software is in progress

Answering to a query, he said that special polling booth for women in lines of Karnataka ‘Pink Booths’ can be implemented in state as per requirement. Efforts are being made for making booths differently-able friendly. NCC/NSS/Scout-Guides services would be taken for assisting elderly and differently able persons so that they can cast their vote early.

Each polling booth would have 4 minimum persons with 20% staff as reserve whiles the counting and allied staff would be higher as per requirement. The police and other security forces would be deployed for security while those staff working in wildlife protection, doctors, and personnel of Doordarshan and AIR among others would not be deputed for election duty.

If the villagers have any apprehension regarding the polling centre or booth then they can register written complaint which would be considered as per rule.