Election Commission reviews poll preparedness in Tamil Nadu

EC had also instructed the chief secretary to transfer the collectors and SPs serving in a district for more than three years. Standard instructions were passed to the state public election department and the state advised to keep the CEO informed about on all the transfers related to the officers involved on poll duty, an informed official source told DT Next.

The CEO had informed the EC that the state is ready for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly seats that are vacant. Issues like the strong room, availability of electric voting machines and the preparation of voters’ roll were discussed during the review meeting, the official said. A circular from the EC to state chief secretary urged the state government not to post officers in their home districts.

The police officials who are posted in functional departments like computerisation, special branch, training is not covered under the instructions. Officers, who are due to retire within the coming six months will have exemptions. All district election officers should ensure that assistant returning officers, district revenue officers, tahsildars and revenue staff are also transferred as per the instructions, the circular read.

Chief Electoral Officer Sathyabrata Sahoo told reporters that publication of the electoral rolls is under way and the new ID cards will be given for young voters ahead of polls. EC has commenced the periodic review meetings and the pre-election process is taking shape, Sahoo said.According to the public election department sources, the EC had directed the CEOs to have their booth level, district level and state level plans ready and conduct meticulous assessment of all resources required for the conduct of elections.

Tamil Nadu officials were also directed to assess their EVM, VVPAT requirements and ensure adherence to the timelines specified for completion of their first level checking. Availability of enough budget, manpower, resources, SVEEP, planning, polling station arrangements and IT applications including Suvidha, Sugam and C-Vigil were discussed in detail. Development of the app to ensure queue less voting experience for people with disabilities, pregnant women and women with infants were also discussed, public election department sources said.

The EC had also instructed the CEOs to work on the helpline for the voters and its role as the first point of care for the voter in finding their name in the voters roll, sources added.