District Election Officers to focus on enhancing voter awareness under the SWEEP program - Chief Election Officer Pankaj Agarwal

The option of casting votes from home should be taken from Divyang voters and those above 85 years of age

Chandigarh, September 03 - Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Pankaj Agarwal instructed all District Election Officers to focus on enhancing voter awareness under the SWEEP program regarding the general elections of Haryana Assembly. He said that efforts should be made to ensure voters are well-informed about the voting process.

Mr. Pankaj Aggarwal was holding a review meeting regarding the assembly elections through video conferencing with all the District Election Officers in here today.

The CEO said that the Returning Officer should have the voter list at the time of nomination, as the Returning Officer first checks the votes of the candidate/proposer. Apart from this, all District Election Officers are required to prepare and submit their District Election Management Plan and District Election Communication Plan to the Chief Election Office.

Mr. Pankaj Aggarwal emphasized the importance of conducting SVEEP activities at all district and assembly constituency levels to maximize voter turnout. He highlighted the need for increased SVEEP efforts at polling stations where voter turnout was lower during the Lok Sabha elections 2024, aiming to boost participation at these polling centers.

He stated that Form 12-D should be collected from the homes of Divyang and voters above 85 years of age who wish to vote from home, with BLOs ensuring timely collection. He said that no negligence should occur in this process. In addition, He said that Form 6 and Form 8 received till 2nd September for making new votes should not be kept pending and action should be taken as per rules. A decision should be taken on this by the last day of nomination i.e. 12th September so that no eligible person is deprived of the right to vote.

Mr Pankaj Agrawal said that voter identity cards with photos, received from the publication, should be dispatched through the postal department. He said that it is the responsibility of the Returning Officer to fully understand the significance of their duties and to carry them out with dedication and impartiality to ensure the election process is completed effectively