As many as 4,443 personnel will oversee the polling process on Thursday when voters will elect a representative each from the Union Territory to the Lok Sabha and also to the Legislative Assembly from Thattanchavady.
In Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency, 9,73,161 electors, including 236 NRI voters, will elect their representative from among the 18 candidates, including V. Vaithilingam of the Congress and K. Narayanasamy of the All India N.R. Congress.
An estimated 29,320 voters, including three NRIs, are expected to elect an MLA from Thattanchavady from among eight nominees. The key contenders in the Assembly byelection are AINRC nominee P. Nedounzejiane and K. Venketasan of the DMK.
The election authorities have made elaborate arrangements in 970 polling stations, including 738 in Puducherry, 164 in Karaikal, 32 in Mahe and 36 in Yanam.
EVMs moved
Electronic Voting Machines were moved from the strong rooms at Motilal Nehru Government Polytechnic, Lawspet; Women’s Polytechnic College, Lawspet; Aringar Anna Government Arts and Science College, Karaikal; Central Hall of Government House, Mahe; and Mini Civil Station, Yanam; on Wednesday morning to disbursal centres under tight security.
By Wednesday evening, the polling staff, with the voting machines, were moved to respective booths. Security had been tightened with the deployment of around 3,000 police personnel, including 1,850 territorial police and 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Force at the polling stations.
The election authorities have made available wheelchairs in 595 locations to assist people with disabilities. Besides, 49 visually impaired voters have been provided with Braille EPIC and Braille voter slips.
Apart from deployment of additional forces in 100 vulnerable polling stations, Internet Protocol and web cameras have been installed to monitor movement of people in the area.
In a press release, Chief Electoral Officer V. Candavelou said the photo voter slip issued by the election department will not be accepted as a stand alone identification document for voting.
Therefore, the voter should necessarily produce either EPIC or passport, driving licence, service identity card with photograph, passbook with photograph, PAN card, smart card, MNREGA job card, pension document with photograph, health insurance smart card, official identity card issued to MPs and MLAs and Aadhar card along with the voter slip.
Polling will be held from 7 a.m to 6 p.m.
Cellphones banned
Mobiles are not allowed inside and vehicles will not be allowed within 200 metres of the polling station, he added.