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Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer, Pankaj Agarwal, announced that for the upcoming Assembly elections, state, district, and assembly control rooms have been set up to monitor webcasting at polling stations.
Agarwal, speaking during a video conference meeting from Chandigarh with Deputy Commissioners and District Election Officers, reviewed the election arrangements. He confirmed that the Election Commission of India will also oversee the process through webcasting. Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member legislative assembly, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8. Agarwal warned that polling agents will only be permitted to participate in authorised activities on polling day. Any involvement in prohibited activities will result in strict legal action. Detailed guidelines have been issued to ensure compliance, he added. Agarwal stressed the importance of vigilance at checkpoints to prevent the transportation of illegal liquor, narcotics, cash, and weapons during the election period. He called on district monitoring teams to intensify their efforts. The Chief Electoral Officer instructed that before polling, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) must be securely stored in strong rooms until they are transferred to polling booths. After voting, the EVMs should be transported with adequate security measures. Vehicles carrying EVMs must not stop during transit and should be equipped with GPS for security purposes. Agarwal also directed that husbands of women employees deployed inside polling booths are not permitted to remain in the polling station. Similarly, husbands of female voters are strictly prohibited from entering the voting compartment. Legal action will be taken if this rule is violated. He further directed that polling stations should provide wheelchairs to ensure accessibility for voters with disabilities. Additionally, arrangements for drinking water, electricity, and seating should be made for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and women in case of long queues. Officers were also instructed to submit daily reports on home voting by individuals over the age of 85 and persons with disabilities, postal ballots cast by employees on duty, and the Electronic Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPB) used by service voters. With three days remaining until voting, Agarwal stressed the importance of maximising voter awareness. He concluded by stating that legal action would be taken against any individuals found behaving inappropriately inside polling stations. (ANI)
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