The term of the 14th Lok Sabha will expire in the normal course on 1st June, 2009. In terms of the constitutional provisions, a new Lok Sabha is required to be constituted before the 2nd June, 2009.
2. In the course of assessment of the scheduling and phasing options available for the general elections, the Election Commission of India held a meeting with the representatives of all recognized National and State parties on 3rd February, 2009 to obtain their views on various issues connected with the general elections. The Commission also held a series of meetings with the Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police and Chief Electoral Officers of all States with a view to assessing the law and order situation, the requirement of Central Police Forces (CPF) and to review the over all preparedness of the election machinery in the country.
3. The conduct of General Elections in the entire country requires considerable deployment of Central and State Police Forces. Mobilization, movement, deployment and disengagement of these forces involve a complex exercise and detailed home-work. Towards this, the officials of the Commission held detailed discussions with the representatives of the Home Ministry in several rounds. The full Commission had detailed discussions, on 6th February and 24th February, with the Union Home Secretary and other senior officers of the Ministry. The Commission also discussed with the Chairman, Railway Board and other senior officials about the inter-state movement plan for the transport of CPF and other police forces.
4. In the process of finalizing the election schedule the Commission has taken into account the schedules of school examinations, particularly the Central and State Board examinations, to avoid holding elections during examination period. Besides, polling stations are mostly located in school buildings. Hence, the Commission had to factor in the examination schedules in various states before finalizing the poll dates. In addition, various holidays and festivals during the months of April and May, harvest season in certain parts of the country and the inputs taken from the India Meteorological Department in respect of coming monsoon have also been taken into account.
5. While deciding on the number of phases, number of poll days for each state and the composition of the states and constituencies that go to polls on a particular poll day, the Commission has taken various relevant aspects into consideration. The views expressed by various political parties as well as the State Governments have also been duly considered.
6. The Chief Secretaries and DGPs of various states have pointed out the need for the deployment of Central Police Forces to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. The Commission has done a detailed exercise to assess the existing deployment of police forces in various states and the total availability of CPF for additional induction from outside the state and the time needed to move them from one state to another. While doing so, the Commission has also endeavored to minimize the crisscross movement of CPF and State Armed Police (SAP) as far as possible, so that their poll day utility is optimized.
7. The possible cross-border influences that could affect the peaceful conduct of elections in the constituencies located at either side of inter-state boundaries have been mapped and this aspect has also been factored in, to the extent possible, while deciding on the phasing and sequencing options.
DELIMITATION OF PARLIAMENTARY AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES
8. The extents of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in all States (except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland) have recently been re-determined by the Delimitation Commission set up under the Delimitation Act, 2002. By a Presidential Notification issued on 19th February, 2008, the Delimitation Orders of the Delimitation Commission have been made effective from the same date in all the States, NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry (except the six States indicated above and Meghalaya and Tripura). In respect of the States of Meghalaya and Tripura, the Delimitation Commission’s orders took effect from 20th March, 2008. Thus the present General Elections to the Lok Sabha for 499 out of 543 Parliamentary Constituencies in all the States, NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry (except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland) and to the State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim will be held on the basis of the newly delimited constituencies.
ELECTORAL ROLLS
9. The electoral rolls of all States and Union Territories have been updated in terms of the aforesaid delimited constituencies, with reference to 1.1.2009 as the qualifying date and have been finally published in all States and Union Territories. However, the process of continuous updating will continue till the last date for filing nominations. The total electorate in the country after this round of revision is approximately 714 million compared to 671 million in 2004. This marks an increase of 43 million in the electorate.
PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS
10. This would be the first time when the entire country, except the three States of Assam, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir, would be using the Photo Electoral Rolls. Out of 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, photo electoral roll will be used in 522 Parliamentary Constituencies as well as in all the Legislative Assembly Constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Orissa. Photographs of 82% electors are printed in the electoral rolls. This will prevent impersonation and facilitate easy identification.
11. The Commission introduced the concept of Photo Electoral Roll in 2005. This was tested as a pilot project during the 2005 revision in all the constituencies of Kerala and Puducherry, 2 constituencies of Haryana and 1 constituency each in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. On the successful completion of the pilot project, the Commission took the decision to conduct the 2009 general election to Lok Sabha using Photo Electoral Roll. The intervening general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Kerala, Puducherry (2006), Himachal Pradesh (2007), Meghalaya, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi (2008) were conducted using Photo Electoral Rolls.
ELECTORS’ PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS (EPIC)
12. As stated earlier, Photo Electoral Roll facilitates easy identification of voters. However, in consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that compulsory identification of voters will be made in the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and three State Legislative Assemblies and in the bye-elections to other Legislative Assemblies. Electors who have been provided with EPIC shall be identified through EPIC only. Special drive for issuing EPIC to the left out electors has considerably increased the percentage of EPIC coverage throughout the country (except Assam where the scheme could not be implemented so far) which now stands at an average of 82%.
13. All the residual electors are advised to obtain their Electors’ Photo Identity Cards from the respective Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) urgently. The CEOs have been asked to invigorate the EPIC preparation and distribution campaign and enhance the coverage within next one month.
POLLING STATIONS
14. Presently there are 8,28,804 polling stations in the country, as compared to 6,87,402 polling stations during 2004 Lok Sabha elections. This marks an increase of 1,41,402 polling stations. This increase is largely due to rationalization of polling stations, which the Commission undertook during 2008 and 2009. Of these, as many as, 12,901 new polling stations have been setup for villages having less than 300 electors with a view to address concerns of threat and intimidation to voters. Commission has undertaken an exercise of ‘Vulnerability Mapping’ in all Constituencies to identify areas and voter segments vulnerable to threat and intimidation and has endeavored to provide polling stations in the vulnerable localities. Other considerations for making new polling stations include the need to reduce the distance required to be traveled by voters, geographical barriers such as rivers and hills etc. This exercise has been done in all the districts in consultation with political parties.
2. In the course of assessment of the scheduling and phasing options available for the general elections, the Election Commission of India held a meeting with the representatives of all recognized National and State parties on 3rd February, 2009 to obtain their views on various issues connected with the general elections. The Commission also held a series of meetings with the Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police and Chief Electoral Officers of all States with a view to assessing the law and order situation, the requirement of Central Police Forces (CPF) and to review the over all preparedness of the election machinery in the country.
3. The conduct of General Elections in the entire country requires considerable deployment of Central and State Police Forces. Mobilization, movement, deployment and disengagement of these forces involve a complex exercise and detailed home-work. Towards this, the officials of the Commission held detailed discussions with the representatives of the Home Ministry in several rounds. The full Commission had detailed discussions, on 6th February and 24th February, with the Union Home Secretary and other senior officers of the Ministry. The Commission also discussed with the Chairman, Railway Board and other senior officials about the inter-state movement plan for the transport of CPF and other police forces.
4. In the process of finalizing the election schedule the Commission has taken into account the schedules of school examinations, particularly the Central and State Board examinations, to avoid holding elections during examination period. Besides, polling stations are mostly located in school buildings. Hence, the Commission had to factor in the examination schedules in various states before finalizing the poll dates. In addition, various holidays and festivals during the months of April and May, harvest season in certain parts of the country and the inputs taken from the India Meteorological Department in respect of coming monsoon have also been taken into account.
5. While deciding on the number of phases, number of poll days for each state and the composition of the states and constituencies that go to polls on a particular poll day, the Commission has taken various relevant aspects into consideration. The views expressed by various political parties as well as the State Governments have also been duly considered.
6. The Chief Secretaries and DGPs of various states have pointed out the need for the deployment of Central Police Forces to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. The Commission has done a detailed exercise to assess the existing deployment of police forces in various states and the total availability of CPF for additional induction from outside the state and the time needed to move them from one state to another. While doing so, the Commission has also endeavored to minimize the crisscross movement of CPF and State Armed Police (SAP) as far as possible, so that their poll day utility is optimized.
7. The possible cross-border influences that could affect the peaceful conduct of elections in the constituencies located at either side of inter-state boundaries have been mapped and this aspect has also been factored in, to the extent possible, while deciding on the phasing and sequencing options.
DELIMITATION OF PARLIAMENTARY AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES
8. The extents of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in all States (except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland) have recently been re-determined by the Delimitation Commission set up under the Delimitation Act, 2002. By a Presidential Notification issued on 19th February, 2008, the Delimitation Orders of the Delimitation Commission have been made effective from the same date in all the States, NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry (except the six States indicated above and Meghalaya and Tripura). In respect of the States of Meghalaya and Tripura, the Delimitation Commission’s orders took effect from 20th March, 2008. Thus the present General Elections to the Lok Sabha for 499 out of 543 Parliamentary Constituencies in all the States, NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry (except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland) and to the State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim will be held on the basis of the newly delimited constituencies.
ELECTORAL ROLLS
9. The electoral rolls of all States and Union Territories have been updated in terms of the aforesaid delimited constituencies, with reference to 1.1.2009 as the qualifying date and have been finally published in all States and Union Territories. However, the process of continuous updating will continue till the last date for filing nominations. The total electorate in the country after this round of revision is approximately 714 million compared to 671 million in 2004. This marks an increase of 43 million in the electorate.
PHOTO ELECTORAL ROLLS
10. This would be the first time when the entire country, except the three States of Assam, Nagaland and Jammu & Kashmir, would be using the Photo Electoral Rolls. Out of 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, photo electoral roll will be used in 522 Parliamentary Constituencies as well as in all the Legislative Assembly Constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Orissa. Photographs of 82% electors are printed in the electoral rolls. This will prevent impersonation and facilitate easy identification.
11. The Commission introduced the concept of Photo Electoral Roll in 2005. This was tested as a pilot project during the 2005 revision in all the constituencies of Kerala and Puducherry, 2 constituencies of Haryana and 1 constituency each in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. On the successful completion of the pilot project, the Commission took the decision to conduct the 2009 general election to Lok Sabha using Photo Electoral Roll. The intervening general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Kerala, Puducherry (2006), Himachal Pradesh (2007), Meghalaya, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi (2008) were conducted using Photo Electoral Rolls.
ELECTORS’ PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS (EPIC)
12. As stated earlier, Photo Electoral Roll facilitates easy identification of voters. However, in consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that compulsory identification of voters will be made in the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and three State Legislative Assemblies and in the bye-elections to other Legislative Assemblies. Electors who have been provided with EPIC shall be identified through EPIC only. Special drive for issuing EPIC to the left out electors has considerably increased the percentage of EPIC coverage throughout the country (except Assam where the scheme could not be implemented so far) which now stands at an average of 82%.
13. All the residual electors are advised to obtain their Electors’ Photo Identity Cards from the respective Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) urgently. The CEOs have been asked to invigorate the EPIC preparation and distribution campaign and enhance the coverage within next one month.
POLLING STATIONS
14. Presently there are 8,28,804 polling stations in the country, as compared to 6,87,402 polling stations during 2004 Lok Sabha elections. This marks an increase of 1,41,402 polling stations. This increase is largely due to rationalization of polling stations, which the Commission undertook during 2008 and 2009. Of these, as many as, 12,901 new polling stations have been setup for villages having less than 300 electors with a view to address concerns of threat and intimidation to voters. Commission has undertaken an exercise of ‘Vulnerability Mapping’ in all Constituencies to identify areas and voter segments vulnerable to threat and intimidation and has endeavored to provide polling stations in the vulnerable localities. Other considerations for making new polling stations include the need to reduce the distance required to be traveled by voters, geographical barriers such as rivers and hills etc. This exercise has been done in all the districts in consultation with political parties.
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