State Vision News Service Poonch, Sept. 16 District Election Officer DEO Poonch, Vikas Kundal conducted a comprehensive inspection of urban polling stations in Poonch to ensure the availability of assured minimum facilities AMF for smooth polling. The inspection focused on ensuring the availability of essential amenities, including ramps for persons with disabilities, adequate lighting, and clean drinking water. The DEO also checked security measures and the sensitivity of the polling stations. The DEO emphasized the importance of providing a conducive polling environment, stating, Our goal is to ensure that every voter can exercise their franchise with ease and dignity. We are committed to providing all necessary facilities to make the polling process smooth and accessible. During the inspection, the DEO passed various instructions to the authorities and instructed them to conduct meetings under Booth Level Awareness Groups BAGs , comprising BLOs, locals, teachers, students, and first time voters, to ensure 100 voting in the area. He also instructed the officials to address any shortcomings and complete the necessary arrangements before the polling date. With the polling date approaching, the district administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every eligible voter in Poonch can cast their vote with ease and dignity.
The DEO was accompanied by senior officers of District Election authorities. Meanwhile,the General Election Observer, Solai Bharathi Dasan and District Election Officer DEO , Vikas Kundal conducted the final randomization of polling staff for home voting for the upcoming Assembly elections in Poonch district today. The home voting shall be conducted from September 18 to September 20, 2024. The process of randomisation of polling parties ensures impartiality and transparency in assigning staff for home voting, specifically for voters aged 85 and persons with disabilities in all the three Assembly Constituencies across the Poonch district. A total of 426 staff members, including polling personnel, micro observers, and reserves, have been randomized to cover home voting across 176 clusters in the three Assembly Constituencies of Surankote, Haveli, and Mendhar in Poonch district. In preparation for this exercise, 625 voters aged 85 and persons with disabilities in Surankote, 717 in Haveli, and 764 in Mendhar have been identified for home voting. The General Election Observer emphasized the importance of this process in maintaining the integrity and inclusivity of the elections. He stressed that the transparent assignment of polling staff is a critical step in ensuring credible and impartial elections. The DEO highlighted the focus on achieving 100 voter participation from home voters, stating, We are committed to full inclusivity in the election process, ensuring that every eligible home voter can exercise their right to vote.
The randomization, conducted using advanced software to eliminate bias, was overseen by senior officials, including ADC Tahir Mustafa Malik, Deputy DEO Saleem Ahmed, ACD Shafiq Ahmed Mir nodal officer for home voting , and Joint Director District Informatics Officer Parvinder Singh.
