All the arrangements are complete for the conduct of the Punjab assembly polls on 117 seats tomorrow with "unprecedented" security arrangements being made for the smooth and peaceful elections.
Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) V K Bhawra said "unprecedented" security arrangements have been made for the polls as compared to arrangements made in previous elections.
"Around one lakh security personnel including paramilitary forces have been deployed in these elections," said Bhawra who is also the nodal officer for state polls.
Unlike previous polls, police check posts continued to stay at several locations before the 48 hours of the polls on the directions of the Election Commission, he said.
With Punjab set to witness a three-horse poll race, the Election Commission has set a target to achieve 85 per cent polling during 2017 assembly polls.
"The election machinery is ready for the February 4 polls," Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh said while addressing media here this evening.
He informed that voting would start at 8 AM and would go on till 5 PM for the 117 assembly constituencies.
As many as 22,614 polling stations including 14 auxiliary polling stations have been set up at 14,177 polling locations in the state, the CEO said.
Asked about the vulnerable polling stations, Singh said there are 5,500 vulnerable stations and around 800 are critical polling stations in the state.
A total of 1.98 crore voters are eligible for voting comprising 93.76 lakh women and 415 third gender. There are 4.05 lakh first time voters of 18-19 years of age, he said.
There are 364 NRI voters in the state. Besides, there are 1.05 lakh service voters in the state, he said, adding there are 65.36 lakh are urban voters while 1.33 crore are rural ones in the state.
Singh said, "There are 1,145 candidates including 81 women in the fray for the elections."
On Amritsar Lok Sabha by-election seat, nine candidates are trying their luck. There are 13.80 lakh voters in the Lok Sabha seat.
The Punjab CEO said voters would have to carry their voter card to exercise the franchise.
In case, someone has lost his voter card, then he could carry copy of one of the documents which are driving license, ID card issued by government department, pass book of nationalised bank, PAN card, Nrega card, Aadhaar card, voter slip authenticated by BLO, to exercise his franchise, he said.
To a query, Singh made it clear that it was prohibited to transport voter to a polling booth.
"It is a corrupt practice and if a voter comes in candidate's vehicle and if it is videographed then the election will be cancelled," he said.
However, Singh said the commission has made arrangements for completely disabled voters for bringing them from their homes to the polling stations.
Singh informed that holiday had been declared in the state under Negotiable Instruments Act in the state on February 4.
"Deputy Commissioners in the state have been asked to ensure the compliance of the government order announcing holiday," he said.
Besides schools and other institutions, malls, multiplexes etc will remain closed tomorrow in Punjab till 5 pm tomorrow, he said, adding non-emergency services would remain shut.
"We will take action, if any violation of the order comes to light," he said.
However, he said emergency services like hospitals will continue to function. "In case of emergency services, employees can be given half days in batches to allow them to cast their votes," he said.
Voters who work in Chandigarh, Panchkula or in Himachal Pradesh, will be given paid leave to cast their ballot, he said.
He appealed to all the candidates to send their polling agents well in time for the mock polling at 7 AM. "If polling agents do not appear till 7:30 am, we will not wait," he said.
Singh further said over 80 per cent of two lakh poll staff have been dispatched to their respective locations.
He said for the first time in Punjab, Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in 33 assembly constituencies and two at Amritsar Lok Sabha segment in the state.
VVPAT will be installed at 6,400 polling stations in the state, he said.
VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters. VVPAT is attached to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to help electors verify that their vote has been cast correctly.
There are around 35,000 EVMs with the EC for the polling.
"We have set a target of 85 percent of polling this time," said Singh as against 79 per cent and 72 per cent polling witnessed in 2012 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha polls respectively.
The first time voters will also be given certificates, said the Punjab CEO.
(Reopens DES45)
On the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda's announcement of supporting SAD-BJP in Punjab polls, the Punjab CEO said the Commission can not do anything at this stage.
"Unless there is an offence, we cannot do anything," he said when it was pointed out that some SAD candidates had reportedly announced to conduct 'Satsangs' of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh in Punjab in the backdrop of Dera extending support to SAD-BJP in elections.
The Punjab CEO was also pointed out that in its recent landmark ruling, the Supreme Court had said religion and caste could not be used to seek votes.
The CEO said he had not seen a video of SAD candidates saying to facilitate "Satsangs".
However, he said, "If a candidate seeks votes for following a particular religion then it amounts to corrupt practice."
But whether it is a corrupt practice or not, it will be decided by court, Singh said and refused to speak further on this issue.
Asked whether the EC has given go ahead to release ex gratia for the victims of Maur Mandi blast which left six persons dead, Singh said they were still waiting for response from the Commission in this regard.
Singh said over six lakh first time voters would exercise their right of franchise this time and all district administrations are taking adequate steps to motivate them voters including honouring them with certificates and mementos.
The ADGP said for the first time, 45,000 police personnel were given option to exercise postal ballot and over 21,000 had already exercised their right of franchise through postal ballot.
He said it is a revolutionary step as the last time only negligible police personnel could vote through postal ballot.
The CEO said ECI would make and endeavour to ensure 100 per cent postal ballot in the next election and congratulated district administrations for achieving this great success.
Meanwhile, the Facebook in collaboration with the ECI has reminded the 18+ voters (facebook users) that they have to poll the vote on February 4.
The reminder links to the EC's website where people can find details on their polling booth and other polling day information. People also have the option to share with their friends that they've voted by clicking on the "Share You Voted" button.
By clicking the button people can highlight their status as a voter to their Facebook friends, without specifying who they voted for.
