GUWAHATI: The Sonitpur district election office has initiated the dispatch of polling parties to their designated stations ahead of the first phase of elections in Assam. Scheduled for April 19, the initial phase will cover five parliamentary constituencies, including Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Kaziranga.
Commencing from Darrang College in Assam's Sonitpur district, the deployment of polling parties and security personnel for the Sonitpur parliamentary constituency began on Thursday. With over 1800 polling stations in the Sonitpur Lok Sabha seat, approximately 5000 polling personnel will be deployed to 1100 stations, ensuring the smooth conduct of the electoral process. Additionally, more than 10,000 polling personnel will be engaged in the polling operations.
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"We have made all necessary arrangements and are fully prepared to conduct the elections, including the establishment of model polling stations. Approximately 150 polling stations have been designated exclusively for women," stated Kavita Kakati Konwar, additional district commissioner of Sonitpur district.
With a voter base of over 16.25 lakh in the Sonitpur Lok Sabha seat, polling will take place across 1878 polling stations. Assuring logistical readiness, chief electoral officer Anurag Goel emphasised the implementation of GPS tracking for vehicles transporting EVMs. Moreover, satellite phones will be provided in remote areas to ensure seamless communication during the electoral process.
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"With approximately 86.47 lakh voters expected to participate in the first phase across 10,001 polling stations, extensive arrangements have been made," stated Goel. Special provisions have been made for elderly and differently-abled voters, including the distribution of voter information guides and braille ballot papers.
To enhance transparency, webcasting will be implemented in approximately 5500 polling stations, allowing real-time monitoring by district election officers, the CEO, and the Election Commission of India.