First Phase Of Polling For Lok Sabha On Friday, 102 Constituencies Spread Across India

New Delhi, April 18 (TNA) India set to celebrate world’s biggest festival of democracy: voting for General Elections 2024 commences on Friday. 102 Lok Sabha seats will go for balloting in the first phase where 16.63 crore voters will cast their votes in 1.87 lakh polling stations. 18 lakh personnel have been deployed in phase one to ensure free and fair elections.

The elections in the first phase will take place for the 18th Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in four states. Remaining 6 phases of polls will continue till 1st of June with around 97 crore voters lined up to vote. Counting of votes scheduled on 4th June.

Voters include 8.4 crore Male; 8.23 crore Female and 11,371 third gender electors. 35.67 lakh first time voters are registered to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.51 crore young voters in the age group 20-29 years. 1625 candidates (Males - 1491 ; Females-134) are in the fray. 41 helicopters, 84 Special trains and nearly 1 lakh vehicles have been deployed to ferry polling and security personnel.

Webcasting will be done in more than 50 % of the polling stations along with deployment of micro observers in all polling stations. 361 Observers (127 General Observers, 67 Police Observers, 167 Expenditure Observers) have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls.

They serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.

A total of 4627 Flying Squads, 5208 Statistics Surveillance Teams, 2028 Video Surveillance Teams and 1255 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters.

1374 inter-state and 162 international Border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.

There are over 14.14 lakh registered 85+ years old and 13.89 lakh PwD voters in 102 PCs who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. The optional Home Voting facility is already receiving tremendous appreciation and response.

Those among 85 + and PwD voters and deciding to come to polling stations will be provided with all facilities like pick and drop facility, signages, braille signage on EVM, volunteers etc. PwD voters can also book wheelchair facilities via ECI Saksham App.