In the ensuing lok Sabha polls, Chandigarh voters would be able to know the details of polling station through an SMS.
The UT Election Department will soon launch an SMS service. The voter will have to send his/her voter ID card number to the soon-to-be-launched helpline number to know the details. UT Home Secretary cum UT Chief Electoral officer Anil Kumar on Wednesday said, “An SMS service would be launched soon. Through this service, voters will be able to check their name in the voters’ list, polling booth address and other such details.”
Giving details of election schedule, Kumar said, “The date of polling in Chandigarh is April 10. The election notification would be issued on March 15, last date for filing nominations is March 22, scrutiny of nominations would be held till March 24 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 26.” He said, “The limit of election expenditure incurred by a candidate for Parliamentary constituencies has been raised to a maximum of Rs 54 lakh in Chandigarh. The candidate contesting election can use three vehicles during campaigning.”
At present, the total number of voters in the city is pegged at 5,82,000 including 3.16 lakh males and 2.65 lakh females voters. The UT Election Department has decided to organize special camps on March 8 and 9 so that voters can check their names in the electoral rolls at all the polling stations. The camps will be organised on March 8 and 9 in all polling stations, where booth officers will have the electoral rolls displayed, with requisite number of application forms.
“If the name of any person eligible to be enrolled is left out for some reason or has been wrongly deleted, such person can fill an application for inclusion of the name in Form 6 and hand it over to the booth level officer,” added Anil. The UT Chief Electoral officer added that the UT Election Department is targeting that 80 per cent voters exercise their franchise on the polling day in Chandigarh this time. For this, a number of initiatives have been started by the Election Department.
“From surprise gifts to cash vouchers, the UT Election Department has planned a number of rewards/incentives for the city voters who exercise their right to vote on the election day. The UT Election Department will also tie up with hotels and restaurants to provide special discounts to the voters in Chandigarh,” added Anil.