Kohima, January 19 (MTNews): The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar said that the state machinery is fully prepared and geared up to conduct a free and fair election to be held on 27 February 2023 as announced by ECI.
Addressing a press conference in view of the forthcoming General Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly here today at Hotel Japfu, the CEO said that, as per the latest electoral rolls, Nagaland has a total of 13,17,632 voters, which includes 7,983 service voters, 6970 PwD electors and 36,403 senior Citizen (80+) electors. Male electors constitute 6,61,489 and female voters are 6,56,143. The gender ratio of electors is 1004 and the number of electors in the 18-19 year age group stands at 30,049.
27 Mokokchung Town AC has lowest number of voters
It was informed that the Assembly Constituency with the lowest number of electors is 27 Mokokchung Town AC with 8302 voters while 4 Ghaspani-I Assembly Constituency has the highest number of electors with 74,395 voters.
Polling Station with lowest number of electors is Polling Station 71-Merapani under 40 Bhandari AC with 37 electors. The PS with the highest number of electors is Polling Station 12- Usutomi under 32 Atoizu AC with 1348 electors.
Voter EPIC
The CEO said that in order to cast votes one could produce his Voter EPIC or any of the identification documents approved by the ECI such as Aadhar card, MNREGA Job Card, Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post office, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Driving License, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension documents with photograph, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/ Public Limited Companies and Officials identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and Unique Disability ID (UDID) card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, GoI.
2315 Polling Stations
Nagaland has a total number of 2315 Polling Stations in 2023, which is an increase of 5.51% from 2018. In the forthcoming general election, 196 polling stations will be women managed while 10 will be PwD managed polling stations.
The CEO informed that out of the total 2,315 polling stations, around 680 polling stations have been identified as vulnerable and 924 polling stations as critical so far. “But this is not a very rigid number,” as it will keep changing depending on the situation, he said.
The electors of Gender ratio is 1004, total number of 18-19 electors is 30,049 and the webcasting Online- 1406 PSs ( 60.73%).
cVIGIL Mobile App
The CEO said ECI has launched the Mobile App “cVIGIL” to enable citizens to report on violation of election code of conduct. cVIGIL provides time-stamped evidentiary proof of MCC/ Expenditure violation by empowering every citizen to click a photo or video using his or her smartphone. This application is based on GIS technology and the unique feature of auto location provides fairly correct information which can be relied upon by flying squads to navigate to the right spot of incidence and take prompt action.
Restriction of use of loudspeakers
The commission has directed that the use of public address system or loudspeakers or any sound amplifier, whether fitted on vehicles of any kind whatsoever or in static position used for public meetings for electioneering purposes, during the entire election period starting from the date of announcement and ending with the date of declaration of results, shall not be permitted at the night between 10:00 PM to 06.00 AM.
305 companies of CAPF
The CEO informed that 305 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been sought to be deployed during election period in Nagaland, out of which 75 companies have arrived so far in advance. The rest of the companies will be coming during polling time, he said.
The CEO also lauded Nikhohu and Thizama villages for their declaration to maintain a clean election in the coming state Assembly election.