Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Pankaj Agarwal said that wheelchairs should be available at polling stations across the state to ensure that voters with disabilities do not encounter any difficulties. Additionally, arrangements should be made for drinking water, electricity and seating arrangements for elderly, Pwds and women in case of long queues at the polling stations.
Mr. Agarwal was presiding over a meeting to review the arrangement for the Haryana Assembly General Elections 2024 through video conferencing from Chandigarh with Deputy Commissioners and District Election Officers of the state. He directed all officers that reports on home voting by persons aged above 85 years and persons with disabilities, postal ballots voting by employees on duty and the ETPB of service voters should be submitted to headquarters daily.
With three days remaining until voting, he emphasized the importance of maximizing voter awareness.
If any mischievous elements are found acting inappropriately inside polling stations, legal action will be taken against them
Mr. Agarwal said that for the Assembly General Elections 2024, State Control Rooms, District Control Rooms, and Assembly Control Rooms have been established for webcasting monitoring at polling stations. The Election Commission of India will also monitor through webcasting.
On the day of polling the polling agents at any polling station will involve only in the activities which are permitted for them. If they will be found involved in any prohibited activity, strict legal action will be taken against them. Detailed instructions have been issued in this regard. A separate nodal officer should be appointed to address complaints from candidates and political parties on polling day.
While giving instructions, Mr. Agarwal emphasized the need for vigilance at checkpoints to prevent the transportation of illegal liquor, narcotics, cash, and weapons in light of the assembly elections scheduled for October 5. He also urged monitoring teams in the districts to increase their activity.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that before polling, EVMs should be secured in strong rooms until they are moved to polling booths, and after polling, they should be transported from the polling booths with proper security arrangements. Additionally, vehicles carrying EVMs should not be stopped elsewhere during transit. For security reasons, vehicles transporting EVMs should be fitted with GPS.
He also directed that husbands of women employees deployed on election duty inside polling booths are not permitted to remain inside the polling booth. Similarly, when a woman voter casts her vote, her husband will not be at all allowed in the voting compartment and doing so will be illegal. Legal action will be taken in case this is done.