look news india
Administrative preparations for the elections to the graduate and teacher constituencies of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Uttar Pradesh have been completed. The Election Commission and the District Administration have made elaborate arrangements in the polling districts to conduct the voting to be held on Friday i.e. 23rd October in a smooth, fair and peaceful manner. In view of the voting arrangements, deployment of security forces and establishment of polling booths, holiday has been declared from classes 1 to 12 in all government, aided and private (CBSE and ICSE) schools in many concerned districts including Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ghaziabad. The concerned District Inspectors of Schools (DIOS) and Basic Education Officers (BSA) have issued official orders in this regard.
The district administration has prepared a foolproof security cycle to conduct the graduate and teacher block elections in the capital Lucknow. A total of 121 polling stations have been set up in the district, under which 259 polling booths have been established. To conduct the elections in an organized manner, the entire area has been divided into 9 zones and 45 sectors and zonal and sector magistrates have been deployed. The polling parties were sent to the designated centers along with EVMs and ballot boxes on Thursday itself. A total of 134 vehicles, including 72 heavy and 62 light vehicles, have been acquired for the movement of polling parties and security forces. More than 1,030 polling personnel have been deployed for this entire process.
According to official data, a total of 1,16,491 registered voters will exercise their franchise in the graduate and teacher constituencies in Lucknow. This includes 96,070 voters in the graduates constituency, for whom 138 booths have been set up. In the teachers constituency, 20,421 voters will exercise their franchise, for which 121 booths have been earmarked. The voting process will start from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. In this election to be held through ballot papers, votes will be cast under the preferential voting system.
Under the strict protocol of the Election Commission, there will be a complete ban on any kind of campaigning, putting up posters-banners, playing loudspeakers or setting up tables of political parties within 100 meters of each polling station. Unauthorized vehicles and crowd gathering will not be allowed in this perimeter. CCTV cameras, videography and micro observers have been deployed at the centres. After the end of voting, all the sealed ballot boxes will be taken under tight security to the strong room located at the Ramabai rally venue, where the counting of votes will take place on October 27.
It will be mandatory for voters to present their photo identity card for voting. If a voter does not have a Voter ID card, then voting can also be done by showing alternative documents prescribed by the Commission—such as Aadhar Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Indian Passport, Service Identity Card issued by State/Central Government or educational institutions or original degree certificate. The district administration has appealed to all voters to reach the polling station on time and participate in the democratic process.
