All preparations for the upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh, covering 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats, are complete, according to AP Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena.
Personnel are being dispatched to all areas, and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being checked before deployment. Polling staff are expected to reach their stations by 7 pm today, with security forces from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and central forces deployed for safety.
To ensure smooth polling, webcasting will monitor the situation at most of the polling centers, and a special app will track voting percentages from time to time.
Strict actions are promised against any obstruction of voters, especially those coming from other parts of the state or country. Efforts are made to engage urban voters and achieve 100% polling.
Mukesh Kumar Meena expects at least a 2-3% increase in voter turnout this time compared to the 2019 elections which was around 79%. The Election Commission (EC) emphasizes zero violence and no repolling.
Police Observers and General Observers are appointed by the EC in a never before manner. EC has spoken to the RTC MD to ensure that there is no problem for the passengers.
Instructions against poll violence are extremely strict, with webcams installed both inside and outside polling stations for thorough monitoring. Special queues for elderly and disabled voters are arranged at polling stations.
Stringent measures are announced against any tampering with voting, including strict actions against those hindering voters or using unauthorized ink.
He warns against misinformation regarding inking procedures, stating that only government-approved indelible ink will be used. Any deviation will face strict consequences, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
