Delhi Assembly polls: Election Commission reviews poll preparedness

Senior officials of Election Commission of India held a meeting with poll panel officials of New Delhi to review poll preparedness for upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. meeting on Monday was attended by a team of Election Commission of India led by Sandeep Saxena, senior deputy Election Commissioner, Director Generals of Expenditure and Media, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, Delhi Police officials, civic bodies and or key departments.

Review meeting held for upcoming Delhi Assembly elections  

review meeting was aimed at sensitizing officers to work for proper planning and proactive action to conduct free and fair, inclusive and accessible elections of Delhi Assembly, a statement from Delhi poll body said. In meeting, district election officers (DEOs) were directed to ensure error-free electoral rolls by disposing of all pending forms, removing all logical errors and demographically similar entries (DSE)/Repeat entries removing de and permanently shifted electors.

This process has to be completed before publication of draft roll on vember 15. Saxena also asked DEOs to appeal to all eligible citizens to get mselves enrolled with qualifying date January 1, 2020, during special summary revision-2020 for which draft roll will be published on vember 15. He said final roll would be published on January 6, 2020, and all necessary preparatory steps to be taken to conduct elections before expiry of term of current legislative assembly on February 22, 2020.

"Vulnerability mapping has to be done to identify anti-social elements and intimidators and re should be a plan to mitigate intimidation and undue influence to vulnerable voters," statement said. Expenditure Sensitive Pockets should be identified and preparations are me to monitor expenditure by political parties and candidates and to check movement of cash, liquor and or goods for use as freebies/inducement for voters during election, it ded.

As per latest tification of ECI, senior citizens (above 80 years) electors and People with Disability (PwD) can exercise option to cast ir vote through Postal Ballots, if y so desire. Accordingly, se electors shall be verified and flagged in electoral roll so that postal ballots are issued to m during elections, statement said. Marking of PwD voters shall be ensured so that all such voters are flagged in electoral roll, it said.

All polling stations shall be physically verified to ensure provisions of assured minimum facilities such as ramps, toilets, signs, proper furniture, proper lightings, drinking water, etc, statement said. Saxena stressed on providing a comfortable and happy voting experience. "Values of equality and PwD empowerment should be exhibited through all-women polling booths and all-PwD polling booths," it said.

All election-related cases registered during last Lok Sabha and previous Assembly Elections should be vigorously pursued and brought to a logical conclusion, it said. First Level Check (FLC) of EVM/VVPAT should be quickly completed with due participation of all political parties, statement said.

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