Jalandhar, February 10 (News Hunt)- Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Ghanshyam Thori today oversaw the preparations of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the presence of representatives of political parties for the ensuing assembly elections.

The deputy commissioner while visiting the Raizada Hansraj Stadium where preparations of EVMs for Phillaur assembly constituency was being done, said that preparations of EVMs for all nine assembly segments has already been started as a total of 2374 BUs, 2374 CUs and 2571 VVPAT machines to be installed at all 1975 polling stations in Jalandhar.

He further directed that as many as one thousand each mock polls be conducted on on randomly selected five percent of the EVMs out of total machines so as to ensure complete fairness and transparency in the poll procedure beside videography of entire mock polling.

The DC said that on February 8, this, the second rendomization of EVMs and VVPAT machines was conducted to allot machines at booth level and now preparations of these machines was being done at several locations.

Meanwhile, he also visited Government Model Senior Secondary School, Government College of Education Ladowali Road and Lyallpur Khalsa College for women Cantt where the work for preparations of preparations of EVMs for Jalandhar North, Jalandhar Cantt and Kartarpur assembly segments respectively was going on. He minutely monitored the entire work regarding the preparations of the EVMs and gave necessary directions to the polling staff for the duties. During detailed interaction with the Assistant Returning officers and other staff, the DC asked them to ensure that the work of preparing the EVMs was completed at the earliest.

The District Election Officer said that this work was being done in the presence of the representatives of the political parties to ensure complete transparency in it. He also asked the officers/ officials to impart their duty diligently as the election duty was true service of the nation.

On the occasion Sub Divisional Magistrates Harpreet Singh Atwal, Balbir Raj Singh, Secretary Regional Transport Authority Rajiv Verma, Dr. Rajat Oberoi, and other officials were present.

JALANDHAR, FEBRUARY 10 (News Hunt)- In a bid to facilitate persons with disabilities (PWDs) and voters above 80 years with ballot voting services, district administration Jalandhar today approved issuance of as many as 1541 postal ballots after consent forms (From 12D) in this regard were received from the eligible voters.

Giving more details, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that a total of 1270 voters above the age of 80 years and 271 PWD voters would be able to cast their votes at their doorsteps as the district administration would arrange for postal voting for them. There were a total of 11563 PWD and 45325 voters above 80 have been registered in Jalandhar, he said adding of these 1541 have given their consent for postal vote. He mentioned the voters opted for postal ballot facility included 209 in Phillaur constituency, 69, 103, 22, 197, 240, 147, 381, and 173 in Nakodar, Shahkot, Kartarpur, Jalandhar West, Jalandhar Central, Jalandhar North, Jalandhar Cantt, and Adampur assembly segments respectively.

The DC added that the administration has ensured all necessary arrangements at polling stations for PWD and old age voters including availability of wheelchairs, deployment of volunteers for them. He said that no stone would be left unturned to facilitate voters requiring special assistance. He urged all the voters to cast their votes to further strengthen the ethos of democracy on Poll day i.e. February 20, 2022.

Meanwhile, a training session was also held for the poll personnel entrusted with the task of conducting ballot voting at the doorsteps of eligible PWD and 80 plus voters. Additional Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh supervised the entire training procedure at HMV College wherein training was imparted to the poll staff with respect to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by the officials.