As Punjab gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections slated for June 1, the electoral machinery was set in motion by the 2005-batch IAS officer Sibin C on Tuesday. Initiating the process with the issuance of notifications and the commencement of nomination filings, Sibin C, in an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, delved into the comprehensive preparations undertaken to ensure a seamless and transparent electoral exercise.

Despite grappling with formidable challenges such as scorching temperatures and the imperative of maintaining law and order amidst the backdrop of ongoing farmers' protests, the Chief Electoral Officer remains resolute in his commitment to conduct the elections with utmost fairness and tranquility.

Amidst a notable surge in the registration of first-time voters, he expressed a palpable optimism regarding achieving a substantial voter turnout. Setting an ambitious target of surpassing the 70-percent polling mark this time, the seasoned bureaucrat has embarked on a concerted effort to galvanize voter engagement, employing various outreach initiatives to maximize participation.

As the countdown to the elections accelerates and the electoral process gains momentum, Sibin C graciously shares insights into the meticulous groundwork and intricate facets of election preparation. Excerpts from the interview:

Could you throw some light on how Punjab is getting ready for the elections with the starting of nominations, and now that the code of conduct has been in place for over a month? What steps have been taken to ensure everything is set for the elections?

The elections were announced in March and a code of conduct has been in place since then. We have to first prepare the database of all the polling materials, EVMs, polling staff...Checking the basic infrastructure of all the polling stations, and seeking their approval, polling personnel, right from DCs, ADCs, AROs, AEROs...SHOs transfers…So, all this is being done during this time. The notification has been issued today, and from now, normally, it is the advanced stage of preparation. EVMs sessions, polling personnel session and training…preparations of electoral rolls, eliminating absentees or those shifted. Issuing of postal ballot and its voting, home voting…and so many things…Observers will come now…they will carry out criticality analysis, polling station deployment, how much police is required, CAPF requirement…Simultaneously, the nomination process is running…After that, their expenditure monitoring will be done. Our expenditure teams deployment, flying squads, everything will be there. So, it’s comprehensive activities that are underway at the same time.

How has technology been leveraged to streamline the electoral process and enhance voter participation in Punjab? What technological advancements CEO office is using to conduct elections?

ECI is very particular about apps, IT innovations, and all. Now, it does not take much time for reporting…Earlier, there used to be hard copy reporting. But it’s not the case now. We have Suwidha portal for seeking permissions. We have C-Vigil app that takes care of MCC violations. Saksham app is there for facilitating PWDs, for wheelchair requirements, for home voting requests. KYC app is there for the people to know everything about their candidates. Besides, all 24,000 polling stations will be covered with webcasting. Then from the Punjab CEO office, we have developed DISE (District Information System for Elections) software. Apart from randomizing polling staff and counting staff, poll activity management system is also the part of DISE, that is actually all reporting voting percentage, any untoward incidents, repolling, at-a-time reporting at the polling station level. Apart from that, we have developed AMF portal, for assured minimum facilities (AMF) at polling stations, its reporting along with the photographs are there of all polling stations…What facilities are their like drinking water, shade, sitting facilities, ramps, electricity…so everything is there.

According to you, what are the key challenges in ensuring free and fair polls here?

Key challenge is basically the heat, and making the people come out to vote…That is our main priority. Second is requiring the security forces as per our demand because of the farmers’ agitation, and other such issues. These two are the main challenges, and rest is all normal routine challenges. This is the new thing, the farmers’ agitation. Then there are law and order issues in certain areas…that may be an issue. Heat is a major challenge. Actually our polling is getting delayed. Previously, it was in April first week, then it went to April last week, then May, May last, and now June.

So, how are you planning to deal with the expected intense heat on the polling day?

We have directions from the ECI regarding the issue of heat wave. We have made provisions of linear shades, sitting arrangements, drinking water, also sweetened water, wheel chairs, volunteers will be there to help, queue management…Then we have model polling stations, which are specially decorated and make attractive for the voters. Then we have pink polling stations — the all-women polling stations. Green polling stations have also been established where saplings will be given to the voters and it will also be planted. Youth management polling stations…so there are different types of polling stations to woo the voters.

Ensuring law and order in a state like Punjab is also a challenge. Do you agree?

Central armed police force (CAPF) requirement in Punjab has always been high because of its history of various issues here, and also because it shares international border…It’s a landlocked state of India…So our requirement is normally more as compared to the states like Haryana, or Himachal or any other state. Here, we usually get the CAPF in accordance with our demand. As of now, 25 companies are already here. Rest will also come. The exact number, I cannot divulge also because it depends. Also, the elections are being conducted in other states, so after that they will be shifted here. They will come, we have already taken up this issue, and today only, I had a word with the Election Commission regarding this. Whatever our requirement is there, it’s because of prevailing farmers’ agitation and all. So, we will get as per our demand.

BJP have also filed a complaint regarding the farmers’ protests, raising concerns about security. How do you take it?

Regarding BJP’s complaint on farmers’ protest, I have sent it to the DGP for report…I have asked them to send me what are the actions they have taken on various issues. The main issue here is the candidates’ security. We have to ensure because the Election Commission is very particular about the candidates’ security that it should be the first priority…Like in J&K, they are providing 25 personnel per candidate. But the situation there is different. Still, here, we also have to take care of this. Assigning security personnel to the candidates is according to the threat perception, and it varies…it depends on the SSP’s report. Also, it is not compulsory …Any candidate, who does not have any threat, it is not compulsory for the police to give security. But normally, the security is provided to candidates…at least one or two.

What efforts the CEO Office is making to ensure an increase in voters’ turnout?

Punjab’s voting percentage was always high…always in 70 per cent. It’s only in 2019 that it was 65 per cent. Reasons may be different like lack of people’s enthusiasm to vote. But our main aim is to make them aware about their voting rights, or their fundamental duties and that we are doing this through various means like electronic, print and social media…through various SVEEP icons like we have engaged cricketer Shubman Gill and singer Tarsem Jassar. We also have district icons and also PWD icons, third gender icons are there also. We are running a comprehensive campaign to make voters aware. Another thing is like attracting the voters to polling stations and that we have to do through various means like what I have told earlier like model polling stations, giving all facilities at polling stations, that we are concentrating on. Finally, what matters is the voters’ enthusiasm. But there are certain negative factors like heat, and the start of another sowing season, and other things are there. But still, we expect it to be 70 per cent. But the only issue will be heat, and we are trying to manage it but ultimately, we can’t say.

People’s faith in EVMs is also flickering, apprehensions are there which may also impact the turnout. Anything being done to address this aspect?

We have focused on that too. We had run the EVM awareness campaigns for about two-three months across the State. EVMs, VVPATs, and ballot units — all the three components — were kept at several polling stations for the people to come and see by themselves to create awareness among them...People can come, and check and do the voting. It was done already. Additionally, after the Supreme Court’s ruling, people should have faith in this system. Thirdly, the ECI has also given a challenge to any person to come forward and show us on the actual EVMs how it can be manipulated, and till date, no one has succeeded. Whatever is shown on social media is fake EVMs, they are not actual EVMs, which we use. So all these factors clearly prove that EVMs are faithful and people should have faith in the Election Commission.

What is the status of first-time voters? How are you planning to tap them, and ensure that they come out to vote also?

The 18-19 voters are always a priority for us, they are young voters. Our enrollment has increased to a great extent. It was 3.96 lakhs in 2019 general elections, and now it has increased to 5.28 lakhs. We have done tremendous efforts to enroll them, and now it is making them vote. We had run extensive campaigns in all educational institutions, and appointed Campus Ambassadors. Then there are dedicated AEROs, that is Additional Electoral Registration Officers, other than the normal EROs. They are dedicated AEROs for each education institution. They can go there and they have the power to register them as well. Our number has increased, but still it is less as we had set the target of nine lakh.

Take the example of Surat, where a lone candidate was declared winner without polling. Is this justified?

Conducting polling there would have been a wasteful expenditure and wasteful exercise. Even if it is NOTA (none of the above) that receives the maximum votes, the person second to NOTA is declared the winner as per ECI rules. So even if the elections would have been conducted there and NOTA received maximum votes, the only candidate is the winner. That is the only choice left.

Have sensitive polling stations identified?

Identifying sensitive and critical polling stations is a six-month long exercise, before the election starts, and finalized sometime near to the polling. After observers come, they have their own kind of inputs. So now, there are around 5000 critical polling stations, out of a total 24,451. But the number will vary depending upon the candidates, and also various events. It’s a dynamic one. I can only give the exact number two days before the polling.

How are you monitoring social media?

We have a comprehensive media cell, and also a social media cell. Social media teams monitor it…There is something like deepfake videos, which is basically affecting our electoral system…then we find out and take action. They are also monitoring whatever gets viral and they will be able to know. We can’t monitor each and every social media account. But whenever there is such news getting viral against EVM or against election commission, etc, we take suo motu action. We will also be monitoring all the social media accounts of the candidates after they file nominations. Sharing general pictures and information is fine. But in case, they are using any creatives, promotional creatives, they have to get it certified and shoe tier expenditure and everything.