Preparations for Lok Sabha elections almost complete, says Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi, February 17

With Lok Sabha elections just a couple of months away, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said in Bhubaneshwar that all preparations are in place to conduct the General Election.

“We are fully prepared to conduct 2024 parliamentary elections and state Assembly elections. All the preparations are almost complete,” said Kumar while addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, where the Election Commission of India (ECI) team is currently present to oversee preparations for the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections which are due in Odisha.

He said that the poll body has tried to make electoral rolls more inclusive. “We have made special efforts to enrol 3,380 third-gender voters,” he said.

In 50 per cent of polling stations, there will be webcasting facility, according to ECI.

“Out of 37,809, polling stations, there will be webcasting arrangements on 22,685 polling stations. Special focus will be on persons with disabilities, youth and women. For this, there will be 300 polling stations which will be managed by persons with disabilities,” he said.

On Friday, the ECI team had conducted a review of poll preparedness for simultaneous elections to both the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly.