World’s largest polling marathon drawing to close as ECI gears up for final phase polls

Polling is scheduled in 57 Parliament Constituencies (PCs) across eight States and Union Territories (UTs) including Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Polling for remaining 42 Assembly constituencies of Odisha State Legislative Assembly will also take place simultaneously.

This will mark a grand finish to the world's largest polling marathon that began on April 19 covering half a dozen phases and 486 Lok Sabha seats. Polling for 28 States and UTs and 486 PCs has been completed in a smooth and peaceful manner. Counting of votes will take place on June 4, according to ECI.

Polling parties have been dispatched along with machines and poll materials to the polling stations concerned. Polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with all basic facilities including ample shade, drinking water, ramps, and toilets to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment.

The Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and State machineries have been directed to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted.

In spite of hot weather conditions, voters have turned up in huge numbers at the polling stations in the past phases. In the last two phases, female voter turnout percentage has surpassed male voter turnout. The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride.

Around 10.9 lakh polling officials will welcome over 10.06 crore electors across 1.09 lakh polling stations. Over 10.06 crore electors include approximately 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women and 3574 third gender electors.

A total of 2707 flying squads, 2799 Static Surveillance Teams, 1080 surveillance teams and 560 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round-the-clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.