 "Polling officials sort papers after collecting election materials at a distribution centre, ahead of the first phase of India's general election, in Alipurduar district in West Bengal, 18 April 2024. Reuters")
India is geared up to hold the world’s largest election. As many as 21 states and Union Territories are polling on Friday (19 April) during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Voting will be held in 102 Lok Sabha seats, including all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, 12 constituencies in Rajasthan, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Uttarakhand, Assam and Maharashtra, four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, all seats in six Northeastern states and one each in Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
About 1,625 candidates are in the fray on Friday. The Lok Sabha polls are being organised in seven phases ending on 1 June, with the counting of votes on 4 June.
Here’s everything to know about the electoral process.
How many voters are eligible?
Nearly 97 crore voters will decide the fate of candidates in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. Over 1.8 crore first-time voters will be exercising their franchise.
In the first phase, 8.4 crore males, 8.23 crore females and 11,371 Third gender electors in 1.87 lakh polling stations will cast their ballots. Of these, 35.67 lakh first-time electors will also exercise their franchise.
How much will the 2024 Lok Sabha elections cost?
India’s general elections are expected to be the most expensive. Political parties and candidates are likely to spend Rs 1.2 lakh crore, N Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the Centre for Media Studies in New Delhi, which tracks political expenditure figures, told The National News.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAs per a report by the Centre for Media Studies, Rs 60,000 crore were coughed up by candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
ALSO READ: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Major battles to watch out for in Phase 1
What is NOTA?
Voters can select the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on the electronic voting machine (EVM) if they do not deem any of the candidates seeking mandate suitable. However, even if NOTA gets the most number of ballots, this does not mean no one wins. The candidate with the second-most number of votes is considered the winner in such cases.
How to get voter slips online?
If you are voting in the first phase, you would have received the Voter Information Slip (VIS) till now. However, in case you are a registered elector who has their name in the electoral roll and still have not got the voter slip or VIS, you can check it online and download it.
Voter slips contain several key details like name, age, gender, assembly constituency, polling station location, room number, and so on. It also has a QR code to easily verify the voters’ details.
You can download the voter slip from either the Election Commission’s (EC) app or website.
1. Go to the ECI website and log in using the Election Photo ID Card (EPIC) number, registered phone number or email ID and password. Enter the captcha, OTP and submit.
2. Once logged in, click on the Electors tab.
3. Scroll and you will come across ‘Download E-EPIC’.
4. Enter your EPIC number.
5. The E-EPIC along with the VIS should appear. You can download it from there and take a printout if you want.
How to check your name in the voters’ list?
First-time voters must ensure their names are on the electoral list before going for polling. Here’s what to do:
1. Visit the Election Commission’s website.
2. Go to the Electors’ tab on the homepage, browse and you will find ‘Search your name in Electoral Roll’.
3. Click on it and submit your Voter ID or EPIC number in the designated space. The Voter ID card has the EPIC code on the front.
4. If you don’t have your EPIC number, you can use your mobile number, name, date of birth, assembly area and information about your relatives.
5. Once you have entered the required information, the ECI website will display if your name is on the electoral list.
How to check polling booth information?
If your name is on the electoral list, you can use your EPIC number to search for the polling station in your assembly segment and other details.
1. Visit electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.
2. Submit the EPIC code, state, and captcha code. Once done, click on ‘Search.’
3. The polling booth information will appear.
How to vote if you don’t have a Voter ID?
You can cast a ballot even if you do not have a Voter ID. But you must ensure that your name is on the electoral list to cast your ballot. You can take a printout of the voter slip and carry it with you to the booth.
At the polling station, a polling officer will verify your name and check your ID proof.
If you do not have a Voter ID, you can produce other official photo identity documents such as a Passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving licence, MNREGA or pension cards as proof. The ID cards of Central and state government employees are also considered valid to cast votes.
With inputs from agencies