lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 12, 2019 12:45 IST

Over 51 lakh people in Himachal Pradesh will exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, out which 88,127 are first-time voters.

Among the first-time electorate, 48,211 are male and the 39,889 female,” state chief electoral officer (CEO) Devesh Kumar told reporters here on Monday.

Kumar said polling for all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state would be held on May 19. Giving details of election schedule, he said the last date for filing nomination was April 29. Candidature could be withdrawn till May 2, he said, adding that counting would take place on May 23.

The CEO said the number of voters in the state had increased to 51,59,000 from 48,10,071 in 2014. Out of 51,59,000 voters in the state at present, 26,45,584 were male, 25,13,357 female and 59 third gender, he added.

Kumar said the election commission had set up 7,723 polling stations, out of which 367 were critical and 950 vulnerable. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the state had 7385 polling booths, including 991 critical and 352 vulnerable,” he said.

The election commission would use 7,723 electronic voting machines (EVMs) and VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) machines all over the state, he said, adding “We have enough EVMs.”

Kumar also provided some unique stats regarding polling booths in Himachal Pradesh. Hikkim, situated 14,567 feet above sea level in Lahaul and Spiti district, is the highest polling booth.

“Shakti polling booth of Banjar in Chamba district is the most inaccessible polling station where the polling parties will have to walk 20 km. Santokhgarh booth in Una district has the highest number of 1,359 electorate, while the minimum number of voters will be at Kinger of Lahaul Spiti district with 37 voters. Women will manage 136 polling booths in the state,” he said.

For the smooth conduct of elections, Himachal Pradesh government had sought 45 companies of central armed forces “ said additional director general of police (law and order) Shyam Bhagat Negi, who is also the police nodal officer.