The Chief Election Commission has set the wheels in motion for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, announcing the commencement of the first phase on April 19. Scheduled across seven phases, the elections are slated to conclude on June 4. Concurrently, states including Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and several north-eastern states are gearing up for assembly elections during this period.
Notably, Andhra Pradesh’s assembly polls are scheduled for May 13, while Kerala is set to cast its votes on April 26. Subsequent phases of voting are lined up for May 3, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, respectively.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar revealed these dates during a press conference at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. The staggering numbers associated with the elections are remarkable, with a whopping 96.8 crore voters, 10.5 lakh polling stations, and 1.5 crore polling personnel, including 55 lakh security personnel. To ensure the fairness of the electoral process, the Election Commission has deployed 2,100 observers.
Gender-wise, out of the 18 crore voters, 85 lakh are female and 49.7 crore are male. Moreover, there are 55 lakh voters with disabilities, while the youth voter count stands at 19.74 crore. In an effort to facilitate elderly voters, 40% of those aged 85 and above will be offered voting-from-home facilities.
Efforts have been made to enhance accessibility and convenience at polling booths, which will offer amenities like drinking water, toilets, wheelchair accessibility, and medical facilities. Moreover, to streamline the process, the use of paper will be minimized, and e-voter lists will be provided. Voters can conveniently access their details through the KYC app, ensuring a smoother electoral experience.
