Imphal  : The campaigning of the 17th Lok Sabha Election 2019 came to an end today for polling in the 13 assembly constituencies on the 1- Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency on 18 April, 2019.

Across Imphal West District, votings will be carried out in a total number of 524 polling stations out of which  26 polling stations ( two in each constituency) will be exclusively manned by women and 13 model polling stations ( one in each constituency ) in the second and final phase of the election.

In order to ensure a better turnout the Election Commission’s preparation are on in full swing. Among the preparations, five vehicles with the wheel chairs are reserved in each polling station focussing on encouraging and aiding people with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly to come out and vote. Youths under the age of 18 will aid them in reaching their respective polling centres for which they will be rewarded Rs.200 as an incentive for their service. Young volunteers have been involved to make them aware of the election process.

Key chains and badges will be given to the first 50 voters and first time voters respectively at every polling station to encourage and celebrate the festival of democracy. Provisions will be made available for the lactating mothers with special rooms and special facilities for the senior citizens.

 Block Level Officers will be provided an amount of Rs 1000 each so as to provide potable drinking water at the polling stations including for the voters. There is also a proposal to distribute sweets/ candies to every voter so that they can cast their votes freely and fairly.

Before the polling begins at 7 am, the polling team and polling agents will conduct a mock poll at 6 pm to ensure that all the EVMs and VVPATs are fully functional and also to ensure hassle free polling, Sector Officers will carry extra EVMs and other requirements accompanied by the Bell Engineers. Apart from other preparations interestingly, Presiding Officers have been instructed to take selfies with the senior citizens and share the photographs in the WhatsApp group of the AROs.

Along with the EVMs and VVPATs, polling personnel are set for dispatching on April 17, 2019 in the morning from the Office of the Imphal West DC Complex, Lamphelpat to their respective polling stations for the 13 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) of the Imphal West.