Bhubaneswar: The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force immediately after the announcement of the by-election to Nuapada Assembly constituency, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R S Gopalan informed on Monday.
Briefing the media on the poll arrangements, he said the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of voters is underway in Nuapada. “There are 1,22,103 male and 1,26,132 female voters, 4,000 differently-abled and 2,007 senior citizens as per the draft voters’ list. The SSR will end on October 7 and the final electoral roll will be published on October 9-10,” he said.
Gopalan further stated that 358 polling stations will be set up across the constituency. “Among them, 56 are new polling stations. None of the polling stations have more than 1,200 voters. We have adequate EVMs and VVPATs. All polling booths will have real-time webcasting facilities for the first time to ensure transparency. Special arrangements will also be made for elderly voters (above 85 years) who wish to vote from home,” he said.
He said that arrangements will also be made for voters to deposit their mobile phones at the booth before casting their votes. “Voters with an Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) can produce any of the 12 other listed documents for identification at polling booths. The no campaign zone has been reduced from 200 metres to 100 metres from the booth,” he said, adding that helpline 1950 will also be activated.
The CEO further stated that the candidates along the parties they are contesting from have to publish their criminal antecedents thrice. “Police will verify the criminal records of every candidate who files nominations,” he said.
He said that postal ballots will be counted first and completed before the last round of counting. “This is another change which will be implemented this time,” he added.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier released the bye-election schedule. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that voting at Nuapada will take place on November 11 with counting of votes scheduled for November 14. The notification will be released on October 13, and the deadline for submitting nominations is October 20. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on October 22, with October 24 as the final date for withdrawal.
The bye-election was necessitated following the untimely demise of sitting BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8.
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