- 196 polling stations to be managed only by women
- Postal Ballot facility made available for 80+ years and PwD voters to vote from home
- One can vote with any photo ID Card issued by the central government such as Aadhar card, PAN, driver’s license etc
Briefing the media through a press conference, chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that the term of state assembly is due to expire on March 12, 2023. So far over 13.09 lakh electors are registered in the state where over 30k first-time voters are set to participate in the forthcoming elections.
The CEC further mentioned that for the upcoming assembly elections in Nagaland, 2,315 polling stations will be set up across 60 assembly constituencies. The average Voter per Polling Station will be 566. Webcasting facility will be available in about 60% of polling stations i.e. 1,650 polling stations.
In an effort to empower women, the CEC said that women will be in command in 196 polling stations in the state, where all polling officials including security staff will be women.
CEC also said that all aspiring candidates in the ensuing Nagaland Assembly elections next month are mandated to publicly make known prominently their criminal antecedents, if any, in both print and electronic media if they are to qualify so as to enlighten the electorate on who they are electing to the august house.
Meanwhile, to make sure that the election is inclusive and to encourage senior citizens and PwDs (People with Disabilities) voters, the CEC said that there will be 10 polling stations in the state where PwDs will greet the voters with Assured Minimum Facilities available in all Polling Stations such as ramps with proper gradient, drinking water, toilets, etc.
It was also informed that a Postal Ballot facility will be available for 80+ years and PwD voters to vote from the comfort of their homes.
“We encourage the senior citizens to come and vote but even if they cannot, the polling stations will go to their home. From the fifth day onwards from the nomination, a form will be available for them to apply; if they apply, the commission will go to their house,” CEC informed.
To encourage more voters to participate, the CEC informed that one can vote with any photo ID Card issued by the central government such as Aadhar card, PAN, driver’s license etc.
Citing how the election machinery has reached remote places like the Thanamir village and Longwa village to ensure an inclusive election, the CEC urged the people to participate in the ‘festival of democracy’.
IT initiatives taken by ECI to make election smooth, effective and transparent
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has augmented the use of IT applications to make the election process smooth, effective and transparent. New and upgraded technological tools are being used in election planning for monitoring the election process.
According to CEC, “cVIGIL” allows citizens to immediately report on incidents of misconduct within minutes of having witnessed them by clicking a picture/recording a video. Once the photo or video is uploaded on the app, the automated location mapping will be done by the app using the Geographic Information System. Once the complaint is lodged, the information beeps in the District Control Room from where it is assigned to a Field Unit consisting of Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams, Reserve teams etc.
To check one’s name in the electoral roll, nvsp.in or Voter Helpline App has been made available. The CEC said that one can check their polling booth and BLO details from those apps and sites.
For accessible elections, ECI Suvidha Portal provides online nomination and affidavit facility to candidates/political parties. Meanwhile, permissions for rallies, meetings, etc. can also be applied online through this portal or the Saksham App, the CEC added.
In order to make informed voting, the Candidates Affidavit with all details including “Criminal Antecedents” has been made available on the Know Your Candidate App of ECI, the CEC informed.