Staff Reporter
1,000 voters allowed in each polling station
GUWAHATI, Feb 27: A day after the Election Commission of India announced dates for the Assam Legislative Assembly polls, State Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khare on Saturday informed that 2,31,86,362 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections.
Of the total, 5,05,874 are in the age group of 18-19 years, while the number of ‘Doubtful’ or ‘D voters’ stands at 1,08,596.
While there has been an overall increase of 32,38,672 voters compared to the 2016 polls, the total electors aged over 80 years this time is 2,90,677.
In view of the COVID-19 situation, the number of voters would be restricted to 1,000 in each polling station. In total, 33,530 polling stations would be set up across the state along with 5,325 auxiliary polling stations. There are 2,125 critical polling stations and 338 polling stations having vulnerable hamlets.
Briefing media persons here on Saturday, Khare said that to ensure peaceful and fair elections, 40 companies of CAPF have been deployed and additional forces are expected to arrive soon.
Of the total voters, 1,17,42,661 are male, while the number of female voters stands at 1,14,43,259. The number of transgender voters is 442. As far as persons with disabilities (PwD) are concerned, the total number of such voters in Assam is 1,32,081, of which 69,261 are males and 62,809 are females. The maximum number of PwD voters is in Goalpara district.
The first phase of polling is on March 27 (47 constituencies), second on April 1 (39 constituencies), and third on April 6 (40 constituencies). Votes will be counted on May 2.
To ensure safe polls, three additional categories of voters would be eligible for postal ballot – COVID-19 patients, senior citizens aged above 80 years and persons with disabilities.
“All safety measures including sanitizers, hand washing gels and gloves would be provided and the voters would have to maintain six-feet distance from each other while being in queue,” Khare said, adding that a toll-free number 1950 will be in operation for voters.
He also stated that 2,029 grounds have been notified across the state where political parties can hold meetings on first-come-first-served basis.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Deepak Kedia told media persons that 6,221 non-bailable warrants have been issued in view of the polls.
