Voting for General Elections 2024 commences

The elections to the 18th Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in four states starts off on April 19, 2024 with Phase 1.

Phase 1 Facts

• Polling for Phase-I of the General Elections 2024 will be held i.e., 19th of April, 2024 for 102 Parliamentary Constituencies (General- 73; ST- 11 ;  SC-18) in 21 States/ UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the State Assembly Elections in Arunachal and Sikkim. It has the highest number of parliamentary constituencies among all phases. Voting begins at 7AM and ends at 6 PM (Closure of Poll timings may differ PC wise)
• Over 18 lakh Polling officials will welcome over 16.63 crore voters across 1.87 lakh polling stations
• Voters include 8.4 crore Male; 8.23 crore Female and 11,371 Third gender electors.
• 35.67 lakh first time voters are registered  to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.51 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years.
• 1625 candidates (Males - 1491 ; Females-134) are in the fray.
• 41 helicopters, 84 Special trains and nearly 1 lakh vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel.

Ensuring Peace and Purity

• The Commission has taken a slew of decisive measures for  peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections. Central forces have been deployed adequately at polling stations to secure the polling process.
• Webcasting will be done in more than 50 % of the polling stations along with deployment of micro observers in all polling stations.
• 361 Observers (127 General Observers, 67 Police Observers, 167 Expenditure Observers) have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls. They serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.
• A total of 4627 Flying Squads, 5208 Statistics Surveillance Teams, 2028 Video Surveillance Teams and 1255 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.
• A total of 1374 inter-state and 162 international Border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

Voter Facilitation and Support 

• There are over 14.14 lakh registered 85+ years old and 13.89 lakh PwD voters in 102 PCs who have been provided the option  to vote from the comfort of their homes. The optional Home Voting facility is already receiving tremendous appreciation and response.
• Those among 85 + and PwD voters and deciding to come to polling stations will be provided with all facilities like pick and drop facility, signages, braille signage on EVM, volunteers etc. PwD voters can also book wheelchair facilities via ECI Saksham App.
• Assured Minimum Facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including elderly and persons with disabilities, can cast their vote with ease.
• Model polling stations are being set up across the 102 PCs with local themes. More than 5000 Polling stations will be completely managed by women including security staff and at over 1000 Polling stations by  Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
• Voter Information Slips have been distributed to all registered voters. These slips serve as a facilitation measure and also as an invitation from the Commission to come and vote.
• Voters can check their polling station details, and poll date at https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/
• The Commission has also provided 12 alternative documents other than Voter id card (EPIC) for identity verification at polling stations. If a voter is registered in the electoral roll, voting can be done by showing any of these documents.

Information for Voters

• Voters should guard against misinformation and fake news from influencing them or dissuading them from participating in these elections, especially against false narratives being peddled on social media. All questions, clarifications and misconceptions are clarified and addressed in Commission’s Myth vs. Reality register available at https://mythvsreality.eci.gov.in/  and voters are requested to verify against these authenticated and credible resources before they amplify.
• ECI KYC app and candidate affidavit portal provides all details of contesting candidates including their assets, liabilities, educational background and criminal antecedents, if any for information of voters.

Media  Facilitation

• Commission has facilitated media persons for coverage of polling at the polling stations with issuance of nearly 47,000 Authority letters in these 21 States/UTs. International media has been specially  facilitated.
• Media and all stakeholders can check voter turnout through ECI voter turnout App on the poll day which will be updated regularly.
• The Commission has also launched a dedicated website for Elections 2024 to provide all relevant information related to General Elections 2024 at one place