Imphal: The Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, Pradeep Kumar Jha, inaugurated a Signature Campaign on Electoral Participation on Friday from the Chief Electoral Officer’s Office. The campaign aims to encourage all eligible voters, particularly the youth, to cast their votes freely and without any external influence on Poll Day.
Various creative materials and explainer videos on applications such as C-Vigil, 1950 (toll-free number), Know Your Candidate (KYC), Saksham, and Voter Helpline have been disseminated across multiple media platforms to promote ethical, informed, inclusive, and accessible voting. Large hoardings and posters providing information on empowering voters have been installed at strategic locations throughout the state, according to the CEO of Manipur.
Jha also revealed that extensive TV and radio programs, including jingles, have been organized in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Additionally, awareness programs targeting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been conducted at all relief camps to inform them of their right to vote.
Furthermore, Jha announced that the first randomization of EVM/VVPAT was completed on March 23, 2024, in all districts, with the second randomization commencing on April 5.
This process is being carried out by the respective Returning Officers in the presence of General Observers and contesting candidates or their authorized agents. The commissioning of EVM/VVPATs has begun in all districts, with 64 engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. allocated across the state for this purpose.
All contesting candidates have been duly notified to be present during the second randomization and commissioning process.
Regarding personnel training, the first round of training for Polling personnel has been completed, with the second round ongoing after the second randomisation.
Additionally, three General Observers, two Police Observers, and four Expenditure Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India have arrived to oversee the preparation and conduct of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in Manipur.
To facilitate voting by IDPs, a total of 94 Special Polling Stations have been identified across the state, Jha stated. Furthermore, 118 Model Polling Stations will be established, with 91 of them exclusively managed by women polling personnel.
A total of 806 polling stations will be managed by women, with an additional 4 polling stations managed by personnel belonging to the PwD category, he added.
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