Chandigarh, September 12- The Chief Electoral Officer Haryana, Shrikant Walgad, today said that the Election Commission of India has issued the schedule for General Elections to Haryana Vidhan Sabha 2014. The Election schedule for the State of Haryana is as under:-
1 | Issue of Notification | 20.09.2014(Saturday) |
2 | Last Date for filing Nominations | 27.09.2014(Saturday) |
3 | Scrutiny of Nominations | 29.09.2014(Monday) |
4 | Last date for withdrawal of Candidature | 01.10.2014(Wednesday) |
5 | Date of Poll | 15.10.2014(Wednesday) |
6 | Counting of votes on | 19.10.2014(Sunday) |
7 | Date before which the elections shall be completed | 22.10.2014(Wednesday) |
He said that Electronic Voting Machines would be used in all 90 assembly constituencies. The instructions have been issued to all the Returning Officers, District Election Officers in the State for launching an awareness campaign for the Media, Political Parties and Public regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the General Elections to Haryana Vidhan Sabha. They may also be guided about the fool proof fitness and working of EVMs. Two stage randomization of EVMs would be done as per Election Commission of India directions i.e. 1stin the presence of representatives of recognized political parties and 2ndin the presence of Observers, Candidates or their election agents.
He said that with the announcement of Elections onSeptember 12, 2014the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect. Instructions regarding the strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct have been issued to the Administrative Secretaries of all the Departments, Deputy Commissioners and Political Parties.
The Photo Electoral Rolls prepared on the basis of January 1, 2014 as qualifying date and finally published on July 31, 2014 along with the supplements prepared under continuous updation thereafter would be used, he added.
He said that first time in this State Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system would be used in six Assembly Constituencies namely-13-Thanesar (Kurukshetra), 21-Karnal, 25-Panipat, 31-Sonipat, 62-Rohtak and 77-Gurgaon.
Since, EPIC have been issued to 100 per cent electors, therefore, according to Election Commission of India’s directions EPIC would be a compulsory document for identification of elector during election. In case of such electors who do not have their EPIC in their possession, they are advised to contact immediately to his Electoral Registration Officer concerned to get the EPIC. However, alternative identity documents may be used if so allowed by the Election Commission of India, he added.
He said that it was mandatory under the Elections Laws for every contesting candidate to maintain and furnish accounts of his election expenses. Copies of the Compendium of Instructions on Election Expenditure Monitoring and on Paid News contained detailed guidelines on the manner in which accounts are to be prepared and submitted by the candidates have already been handed over to the representatives of all the Political Parties, he added.
Mr Walgad said that on the Balloting Unit, below the name of the last candidate there would now be a button for NOTA option so that electors who do not want to vote for any of the candidate could exercise their option by pressing the button against NOTA.
He said that in order to maintain the Law and Order and to ensure free and fair elections arrangement of security etc. would be made in accordance with Election Commission of India’s directions. Further Election Commission of India would appoint Expenditure Observers and General Observers to monitor the activity of expenditure, election, poll and Model Code of Conduct etc. Videography of all critical events including nomination, scrutiny, allotment of symbols, preparation of EVMs and their storage etc. would be ensured by the Returning Officers. Polling parties would be formed through randomization according to Election Commission of India’s guidelines, he added.
Mr Walgad appealed to the citizens, Press and all political parties to cooperate with the Election Department for the peaceful and smooth conduct of Elections in the State. He has further exhorted the electors in the State to cast their votes fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement.