ECI holding two-day conference of CEOs on Jan.11& 12

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI)  is holding a two-day conference on January 11 & 12, 2019, of the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to review poll preparedness for the General Elections to the Lok Sabha in 2019.

During the conference, the Commission will discuss key issues related to poll preparedness such as Electoral Rolls, ERO Net, Polling Station arrangements, EVM-VVPAT  preparations, Security Management, Accessibility to Persons with Disabilities, Voter Education, use of IT applications, provision for Budget, manpower and other resources and so on.  Apart from reviewing the poll preparedness, the Commission will also discuss the takeaways and learnings from the recent poll gone States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana.

The CEOs will make their comprehensive presentations of their poll preparedness on all important parameters.  The Commission desires from the CEOs that elections are made totally voter-friendly and accessible for Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Gender.  It has already directed the CEOs to build a campaign on various media platforms to register eligible citizens and voters, provide every facility for search of their names through website, SMS gateway and through Voter Facilitation Centre at ERO level.

The Commission has also directed all States to activate the voter helpline centre 1950 so that the grievances of the voters are promptly redressed. During this conference, the Commission would review the status of facilitation provided to voters by both online and offline methods.  The Commission has already given a checklist to all CEOs on each important parameter and detailed report has been sought from them on each point of checklist.

The Commission will also review the status of vulnerability mapping, security planning, availability of police forces and their requirement during forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections, according to a PIB release.