100% webcasting to be implemented in all 3,079 polling booths in Madurai district, says DEO

District Election Officer and District Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar said that 100% webcasting will be implemented in all 3,079 polling booths across the 10 Assembly constituencies in the district during the polling day on April 23.

He addressed journalists here on Monday, along with the City Police Commissioner J. Loganathan and Superintendent of Police B.K. Arvind.

Sensitive polling stations, which saw less than 10% of polling in the previous election, are under an intense monitoring.

“Also, to better reach the voters, a polling station has been set up at the Santhi Sadan Apartments in Madurai West under the ‘Polling Station at Residential Complexes’ initiative,” he said.

A total of 14,764 polling officials are on duty across the district. The voter list included 5,232 military personnel and 14 overseas (NRI) voters, he said.

To facilitate and make the voting process simpler, arrangements have been made for 1,159 voters aged above 85 and 891 persons with disabilities (above 40% disability) to vote from home. Those interested must apply through the Election Commission.

In addition, provisions have been made for 87 voters currently detained in Madurai Central Prisons to cast their votes.

He said that basic amenities like water availability, lighting and ramps among others would be ensured at all polling stations.

“In an effort to make the voting process stress-free, we have made mobile deposit facilities for the voters to drop their mobile phones at the polling stations before voting,” he added.

Also, the voter info slip that would be issued to the voters would be in legible font and size.

As the Model Code of Conduct has come into force from Sunday (March 15). A total of 90 flying squads have been formed for the 10 Assembly constituencies in the district. Also, 90 Static Surveillance Teams (STTs) have been set up on a rotational basis to inspect vehicles arriving from other districts.

Further, 10 Video Surveillance Teams and 10 Expenditure Monitoring Committees have been established for all the constituencies.

Mr. Praveen Kumar said that based on expenditure patterns in previous elections, CRPF personnel would be deployed alongside flying squads and Static Surveillance Teams in five specific constituencies – Madurai East, Madurai South, Madurai North, Thirupparankundram, and Thirumangalam.

He said that the public should avoid carrying more than ₹50,000 in cash without valid receipts.

As arrangements have been made for banks transporting huge volume of cash in vehicles, vehicles transporting cash to ATMs must register on the ESMS App and generate a QR code, he added.

“The flying squads or Static Surveillance Teams while scanning the QR code can verify the cash details through the registration,” he said.

Those bank transactions exceeding ₹10 lakh would be monitored by Income Tax officials and Enforcement Directorate, he said.

However, to facilitate the immediate release of seized cash, a dedicated committee has been formed to verify and release the cash upon submission of valid supporting documents.

“Arrangements have been made for the presiding officers during the polling date to register the voter turnout every two hours. This would facilitate to know about the voter turnouts on the polling day,” Mr. Praveen Kumar said.