PANAJI
Two Lok Sabha seats, 1,725 polling stations (booths), 5,000-odd police personnel and thousands more poll duty staff. The State's election machinery is all set and ready to make Tuesday's polling exercise a "free, fair and friendly" election even as Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Verma said the voting percentage is likely to go up to 80 per cent.
“The voting turnout in 2019 Lok Sabha election in Goa was roughly 75 per cent which will be bettered this time with a target of at least 80 per cent”, Verma said.
Verma also said they (poll machinery) is walking an extra mile to ensure that the process for voters to cast their votes in both North and South Goa constituency is least burdensome for the voter.
"We will provide coolers in as many polling stations as possible and arrangements are also being made for lemon juice and other refreshing drinks for voters between 9 am and 4 pm because of the heat wave conditions," Verma said.
He was co-addressing a press conference in Panaji along with the two collectors -- Sneha Gite and Ashwin Chandru -- who are the returning officers for the North Goa and South Goa seats respectively and Inspector General of Police, Omvir Singh, IPS.
Verma said all the 1,725 booths are ready, polling staff will be moving in by tomorrow evening and as far as possible, a wheelchair each will be provided.
Gite said of the 863 polling stations in North Goa, two will be "unique polling stations": one is at the heritage Old GMC building in Ribandar and the second on an island in Cumbharjua access to which is via two ferry boat rides. Gite also said, that tree planting drives will be carried out by the polling party around the polling stations, wherever it is feasible, when they arrive there tomorrow (Monday) itself.
Similarly, in South Goa five trees will be planted in each of the 862 polling stations, Chandru said.
Meanwhile, Verma said in addition to 'Pink Polling Stations' which will be managed by women there will also be eight polling stations manned by persons with disability (PwDs) as also some managed by 'youth. In all there will be 229 such special polling stations across the State. Some 80-odd of these will be eco-friendly.
Verma also said those senior citizens, PwDs and various other categories of voters including poll duty staff who had registered for the 'absentee voting' facility (postal ballot) but missed the date will not be permitted to vote at polling stations on May 7.
"The ECI rules and guidelines do not permit it. They will not be permitted to vote at polling booths on May 7," Verma said in response to a query whether senior citizens who possibly failed to register their vote when polling parties visited their homes will be permitted to vote like regular voters on May 7.
