@ECISVEEP
The Election Commission of India today started the distribution and dispatch of designated ballot boxes, ballot papers, special pens, and other sealed election materials to the Legislative Assembly Secretariats for the conduct of Presidential Election 2022 scheduled on 18th of this month.
Speaking to the Assistant Returning Officers from the states and Union Territories, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized that strict adherence to procedures by the ECI teams has become its hallmark in delivering error-free elections time and again. He said, a set of well-defined instructions and Standard Operating Procedures that are required to be followed thoroughly to complete every electoral process account for ECI’s robustness for conducting elections. He asked the officials to be vigilant and ensure strict adherence to protocols and guidelines for transportation and storage of election materials including ballot boxes and ballot papers.
The Commission mandates the collection of the materials from the ECI Headquarters in Delhi by Assistant Returning Officers AROs including one senior officer from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. After the poll is over, the polled and sealed Ballot boxes and other election material have to be transported back to the Office of Returning Officer that is Rajya Sabha Secretariat by the next available flight.
The Commission has appointed 37 Observers for overseeing the arrangements of polling and counting during elections. The Commission has deployed one Observer for overseeing polling at each of the 30 places of poll in the State and UT Legislative Assemblies and two observers for Parliament House. The designated Observers will take stock of election arrangements made for security and transportation of ballot boxes and election material by the ROs and AROs and ensure free and fair elections. The Observers deputed at Parliament House will also oversee the counting process of votes on 21st of this month.
