Around 1.10 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the Bhagwanpur Assembly by-polls, slated on Saturday.
The Haridwar district magistrate and election officer Harish Chandra Semwal said that all security and other preparations have been completed. Around 2,400 police forces, including five companies of central paramilitary forces, will be deployed at 143 polling booths to ensure free and fair by-election.
The poll-bound areas have been divided into three zones and 16 sectors, he added.
Six candidates are contesting the by-poll. Moreover, Haridwar DM Semwal and SSP Sweety Aggarwal inspected various polling booths and gave the zonal magistrate, sector magistrate and other election officials necessary instructions to ensure a peaceful by-polls.
DM Semwal said that a total of 153 polling groups consisting of one presiding officer and three polling officers have been formed and they were given training about EVM in details. They will be deployed at their assigned polling booths after 11.30 am from Haridwar Collectorate on Friday. Ten such groups have been kept on reserve.
A total of 15 polling booths have been developed as model booths equipped with all the facilities that the voters may need while exercising their franchise.
The Election Commission of India has launched mobile apps for general and expenditure observers for Bhagwanpur Assembly by-polls.
One can inform the observers about violation of model code of conduct during the by-polls.
Election officer Semwal said all the Government and private schools, offices, industries commercial establishments, shops and others will remain closed on April 11 — the day the by-election would be held.
Presiding officer has been made accountable for over- all arrangements at the polling booth. The officers have been directed to test various facets of EVMs before they procure them.
The DM further said that the election officers have been directed to execute duties effectively. They should update election control room and election office from time to time on the polling day. Voters should be motivated to exercise their votes fearlessly at the booths.
The police station officers were directed to take strict steps against anti-social elements out to disrupt or hamper polling. The police officers were directed to enforce section 144 of CrPC in the restricted areas strictly, he added.