Jharkhand: Singhbhum, Khunti, Lohardaga, Palamu go to polls today, tight security in place

Women to oversee 519 polling booths, 14 booths to be managed by disabled persons

Mail News Service

Ranchi, May 12: With the first phase of voting in Jharkhand looming, election authorities have finalized preparations, unveiling initiatives to ensure inclusivity and efficiency in the electoral process. According to information released by the Election Commission, 519 polling booths will be manned by women election workers, marking a significant step towards gender representation in electoral duties. Additionally, 14 polling stations have been designated for disabled election workers to facilitate accessible voting experiences.

In a bid to enhance the integrity and accessibility of the electoral process, all 7595 polling stations set for the first phase will be designated as model polling stations. These stations will boast top-notch voting arrangements to streamline the voting experience for citizens.

Among the four parliamentary constituencies slated for voting in the first phase, namely Khunti, Singhbhum, Lohardaga, and Palamu, Khunti will witness the highest number of women election workers overseeing voting responsibilities. The Election Commission has allocated 122 polling stations to Singhbhum, 210 to Khunti, 115 to Lohardaga, and 72 to Palamu, where women personnel will exclusively manage polling duties.

Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar provided insight into the logistical aspects of the first phase, disclosing the utilization of 9874 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, 9114 Control Units (CU), and 9114 Ballot Units (BU) for seamless voting operations. Kumar also outlined the polling arrangements, revealing the setup of 639 polling stations across the four parliamentary constituencies and 6956 stations in rural areas.

Voting will commence at 7 am and conclude at 5 pm, ensuring ample time for citizens to cast their votes. To enhance transparency and real-time monitoring, the Voter Turnout App will provide updates on voter participation every two hours, starting from 9:30 am. Additionally, close-up polling data will be available on the app at midnight, following which the final data will be scrutinized and released the next day, ensuring a transparent and accountable electoral process.

Voter Turnout App for transparent voting process 

Mail News Service

Ranchi, May 12: Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar has announced the launch of the Voter Turnout App, aimed at providing real-time updates and resolving common queries regarding voting. Kumar emphasized the app’s transparency, stating that it will update every two hours, providing comprehensive information about the voting process.

According to Kumar, the app will play a pivotal role in alleviating doubts among the general populace by ensuring timely and accurate updates. The sequence of updates will commence at 9:30 am, where the estimated voting status for the preceding two hours will be displayed. This process will continue every two hours until 7 pm, following which close-up polling data will be accessible at midnight. After thorough scrutiny, the final voting data will be available on the app by the next midnight.

In addition to introducing the Voter Turnout App, Kumar highlighted important guidelines for voters. He emphasized that mobile phones should not be brought inside polling booths and prohibited photography or recording within polling stations.