Election Commission launches 'Mission 414' in Himachal Pradesh

Tags: State News

The Election Commission launched "Mission 414" to increase the voting percentage at 414 polling stations in Himachal Pradesh.

An Overview of the News

• A special campaign "Mission 414" was launched by the Election Commission to increase the voting percentage in 414 polling stations which had less than 60% voting during the last Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh.

Objectives and Strategies:

• Organizing awareness campaigns and cultural programs.

• Designating the identified centers as model polling centers.

• Including booth youth icons and distributing special invitation cards to prospective voters.

• Targeted Intervention:

  • Initiative to increase voting in 22 assembly constituencies with less than 70% voting.

  • To implement door-to-door outreach programs to motivate voters.

• Focus on women voters:

  • To appoint 'Women Motivators' in Gram Panchayats to encourage women to vote.

  • To involve women icons and campus ambassadors to reach out to working women and housewives.

Election Management Measures:

• Enhanced Polling Station Observation:

  • The number of polling stations has been increased to 7,990, of which 150 will be exclusively monitored by women officers.

  • Allotting 54 stations to young officers and 29 stations to disabled officers.

• Special Voter Features:

  • To provide home voting facilities for PwD voters and people above 85 years of age.

  • Serving 56,320 disabled voters and 60,995 voters above 85 years of age in the state.

Voter Demographics and Projections:

• Demographic statistics:

  • Total eligible voters: 56,38,422, including men, women and persons of third gender.

  • Notable demographics include 1,38,918 first-time voters and 10,40,756 voters in the 20-29 age group.

• Expected increase in young voters:

  • An increase in young voters is expected as advance applications are being received from 17-year-olds up to 18-year-olds.

Electoral Rules:

• Expenditure Limits:

  • Rs 95 lakh for Lok Sabha elections and Rs 40 lakh for assembly by-elections.

Unique Polling Station:

• Extreme Location:

  • Tashigang polling station in Lahaul and Spiti, situated at an altitude of 15,256 feet, is the highest in the country.

• Voter Distribution:

  • Dalhousie's Manola polling station has the highest number of voters (1,410), while Kinnaur's Kaa polling station has the least (16 voters).