Chief Election Officer for Karnataka, Anil Kumar Jha in a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday reiterated the model code of conduct and presented statistics relating to the number of polling stations, vehicles mobilised for poll purpose and polling personnel, among others. Jha said there would be a ban on public meetings and processions from 15 April evening onwards.
No bribing or impersonation of voters
According to the guidelines prescribed by the Election Commission of India, all parties and candidates shall scrupulously avoid all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law. They are:
- Bribing of voters in cash or kind
- Intimidation of voters
- Impersonation of voters (voting on behalf of others)
- Canvassing within 100 meters of a polling station
- Holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours before the commencement of the polls
- Whenever possible, buses to the polling booths will be run by the administration officials
- None of the candidates or parties can make transport arrangements
- Number of polling stations: 54,261 (excluding 3 auxiliary)
- Hypersensitive: 11,424
- Sensitive: 14,968
- Number of polling personnel: 2,95,016 (Men: 1,76,968 Women: 1,18,048)
- Uniformed personnel (Armed police, Home Guards, CRPF): More than 60,000
- Number of vehicles mobilised for poll purpose (not security): 20,200 (5,000 vehicles for sector/election officers)
- Model polling booths set up by BBMP: 100 (5-10 in each constituency)
The Election Commission has issued a circular banning the use of mobile phones inside polling booths. None of the voters will be allowed to carry their mobile phones inside the polling booth. They will be required to handover their phones to the returning officer or polling officer at the booth. Jha added, “Any selfies clicked inside the polling booths can attract imprisonment up to three months since it is a violation of the Representation of the People Act. Voters are however free to take selfies outside the polling booth.”
When asked about the first time voters in all the 28 constituencies in Bangalore, CEO-KA Jha said, “We cannot give you the exact number of first time voters, because even a 21-year-old can be a first time voter. But, the number of voters in the age group 18-19 years is 11,12,520.
On the number of voters with disabilities, he added, “We have no database for disabled voters.”
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