Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan on Thursday, conducted a comprehensive review of preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2024 in the districts of Indore and Ujjain divisions. Emphasizing the importance of voter awareness, Rajan urged for the development of localized action plans and advocated for direct outreach to voters at their doorstep. He highlighted the necessity of forming party units at the village level for effective engagement.

Additionally, Rajan underscored the need for meticulous arrangements to ensure seamless, fair, and peaceful voting processes. Considering the prevailing heat conditions, he stressed the provision of essential amenities such as shade, cool water, seating arrangements, fans, and ORS at polling stations. Furthermore, extensive security measures have been put in place to safeguard the polling day proceedings

Rajan said that concrete arrangements should be made to conduct free and fair elections. He sought detailed information about law and order, status of polling stations, polling stations managed by women and differently-abled people, availability of electronic voting machines and human resources, availability of postal ballots, vehicles, checking being done at checkpoints etc. He said that complete caution and vigilance should be taken during the elections. The Commission is alert and serious about conducting the elections in a free, fair, uninterrupted and peaceful manner. He directed that other restrictive actions including NSA should be taken against people with criminal tendencies, so that confidence can be established among the common voters so that they can exercise their franchise fearlessly.

Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan emphasized the need for continuous and vigilant surveillance at inter-state and inter-district checkpoints to curb illicit activities. He urged the confiscation of illegal money, liquor, drugs, and other prohibited items, including illegal weapons. Strict measures were advised against individuals involved in such unlawful practices. Additionally, Rajan instructed authorities to expedite the process of bond over and strictly adhere to the Zilabadar order.

Moreover, he stressed the importance of ensuring the readiness of Special Striking Teams (SST), Flying Squads (FST), and Video Surveillance Teams (VST). Special attention was directed towards enhancing security measures at polling stations in vulnerable areas. Furthermore, additional security forces were instructed to be deployed in buildings housing five or more polling stations. To facilitate smooth voting processes, extra polling personnel were advised to be stationed at polling stations with a high number of voters.

Rajan said that CCTV cameras should be installed inside and outside the critical (sensitive and hypersensitive) polling stations to keep an eye on the elements that obstruct voting. Make strict arrangements for monitoring the web casting done through these cameras, so that if any irregularity is seen in voting at any centre, immediate action can be taken.

To increase the voting percentage, Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan laid special emphasis on conducting voter awareness activities on a large scale in every polling station. He said that for this, the “Chalein booth ki ore” campaign should be launched. The message should reach every house in the settlements connected to each polling station that everyone must exercise their franchise on May 13. All District Election Officers should form local teams for each polling station to go from door-to-door to motivate voters to cast their votes. With the help of this team, call people to vote on the voting day also.

Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said that as many model polling centers as possible should be established in all the districts along with rural areas, especially in urban areas. The facilities of these centers should be such that more and more voters are motivated to cast their votes. Voters can be welcomed with welcome drinks like aam ka pana, jaljeera, buttermilk etc.

Rajan emphasized the critical role of distributing voter information slips in bolstering voter turnout. He stressed the need for special focus on ensuring the widespread distribution of these slips, with no voter left without one. It was underscored that efforts should be made to achieve 100% coverage in distributing the slips to all voters

Furthermore, Rajan highlighted the importance of educating voters that the voter slip alone does not suffice for voting. Alongside the voter slip, voters must also bring alternative identity documents as per the guidelines outlined by the Election Commission of India.

Divisional Commissioner, Collector and Superintendent of Police of Indore and Ujjain divisions gave information about the election preparations and SVEEP activities and other innovations of their respective districts.