The Election Commission today announced the dates and phases of elections for 5 states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa. Assembly elections for Uttar Pradesh were held in 7 phases in 2012. Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi made the announcements.
Here are the announcements made by the Election Commission on assembly election dates and phases:
- Assemblies expiring on: Goa 18 March, Manipur 18 March, Punjab 18 March, Uttarakhand 26 March, and Uttar Pradesh 27 March.
- Number of constituencies: 619/690 – 133 reserved for Scheduled Castes, 23 for Scheduled Tribes.
- Millions of errors, multiple entries have been removed from the electoral rolls.
- Revised electoral rolls published on: Goa – January 5, Manipur – January 12, Punjab – January 5, Uttarakhand – January 10, and Uttar Pradesh – January 12.
- The Election Commission will distribute photo voters slip to all voters. These have been improved.
- Colourful voter guide will be distributed to all families. This will have details of polling stations, date and time of polling, ID docs that can be used, etc.
- 1.85 Lakh polling stations will be covered. This has increased by 15 per cent.
- There are over 16 crore voters in the 5 states.
- For secrecy, height of the voting compartment has been raised to 30 inches.
- Electronic Voter Machines or EVMs will be used in all states.
- As you know there is a symbol provided at bottom of EVM for ‘None Of The Above’ or NOTA.
- In certain constituencies there will be Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT.
- The number of constituencies with VVPAT will be increased.
- Election Commission is joining the rank of global leaders in the area of electronic transmission of votes. This is a historic (first) step.
- Electronic transmission of votes done keeping in mind defence personnel.
- Postal votes will be transmitted one-way in certain constituencies.
- Candidates will be required to file a no demand certificate.
- The rules have also been changed. Candidates will have to fix a photograph on nomination paper. They will have to declare that they are citizens of India, not sought foreign citizenship.
- The model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.
- The Election Commission is determined to ensure strict compliance.
- In the last 72 hours there are reports of malpractices, so new SOP has been introduced.
- The Election Commission is discouraging parties from using any environmentally hazardous materials for publicity. We also discourage the use of loudspeakers.
- We will conduct elections in free and fair manner.
- Arrangements have been made for adequate central police in addition to local police.
- The limit on expenses and expenditures are: Goa 20 lakh, Manipur 20 lakh, Punjab 28 lakh, Uttarakhand 28 lakh, and Uttar Pradesh 28 lakh.
- The Election Commission will ensure complete coordination of enforcement agencies.
- Among new measures, booth or kiosk set up by candidates will be included in candidate expenditure.
- Candidates will also be required to open accounts in banks.
- Expenses above Rs. 20,000 will be made out of this bank account, and made through cheque.
- Donations and loans greater than Rs. 20,000 will have to be done by way of cheque or draft.
- Political parties will need to file expenses within 30 days of election results, and final accounts within 75 days of results.
- Media is a friend of the Election Commission. We are proud of it. The commission will be swift in response to news.
- Election Commission encourages the use of social media.
- Some TV channels carry huge publicity for candidates. All expenses on TV will be included in expenses of candidates.
- Counting of votes for all states (all phases) on March 11, 2017.
GOA
Notification – January 11, 2017
Number of Constituencies – 40
Last date of nominations – January 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 19, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 21, 2017.
Voting to be held on February 04, 2017 – In single phase.
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PUNJAB
Notification – January 11, 2017
Number of Constituencies – 117
Last date of nominations – January 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 19, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 21, 2017.
Voting to be held on February 04, 2017 – In single phase.
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
UTTARAKHAND
Notification – January 20, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 27, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 30, 2017.
Voting to be held on February 15, 2017 – In single phase.
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
MANIPUR (2 PHASES)
Manipur has 60 constituencies and voting will take place in 2 phases
Counting of votes (Both phases): March 11, 2017
PHASE 1:
Notification – February 08, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 15, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 16, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 18, 2017
Voting to be held on – March 04, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 2:
Notification – February 11, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – March 02, 2017
Voting to be held on March 08, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
UTTAR PRADESH
Uttar Pradesh has 403 constituencies and elections will take place in 7 phases
Counting of votes (All phases): March 11, 2017
PHASE 1: 73 Constituencies
Notification – January 17, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 24, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 25, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 27, 2017
Voting to be held on February 11, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 2: 67 Constituencies – 11 Districts
Notification – January 20, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 27, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 30, 2017
Voting to be held on February 15, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 3: 69 Constituencies – 12 Districts
Notification – January 24, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 31, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 02, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 04, 2017
Voting to be held on February 19, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 4: 53 Constituencies – 12 Districts
Notification – January 30, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 06, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 07, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 09, 2017
Voting to be held on February 23, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 5: 52 Constituencies – 11 Districts
Notification – February 02, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 09, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 11, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 13, 2017
Voting to be held on February 27, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 6: 49 Constituencies – 7 Districts
Notification – February 08, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 15, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 16, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 18, 2017
Voting to be held on March 04, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
PHASE 7: 40 Constituencies – 7 Districts
Notification – February 11, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 20, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 22, 2017
Voting to be held on March 08, 2017
Counting of votes: March 11, 2017
