The Election Commission,has set up 600 all-women run polling booths to push voter percentage among women.Twenty eight special polling booths bearing an ethnic look have also been set up in the state to encourage primitive and nomadic tribes to vote.
Over 4.96 crore voters, including 2.52 crore men, 2.44 crore women and over 4,500 people who identify themselves as ‘transgenders, have registered to vote.
A total of 15.42 lakh voters, aged 18-19, have registered to cast their ballot for the first time.
The voter turnout in the previous Assembly election held in the state in 2013 was 71.45 percent.The poll panel hopes the voting percentage would surpass 75 percent in 2018, after it held several voting awareness programmes across the state.
Candle light march by entire election machinary and Police was held constituency wise to create awareness and highlight importance of VOTES and VOTING for STRONGER DEMOCRACY.Participate in FESTIVAL of DEMOCRACY by CASTING your VOTE DCP South, Dr.S.D.Sharanappa tweeted to create awareness in public.
Director General of Police,Neelamani Raju told media persons that,Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair elections when Karnataka goes to polls on Saturday to elect 223 candidates for the Legislative Assembly.Ms Raju said in all over 1.4 lakh police forces including officers will be on duty to ensure peaceful polling.This includes Karnataka civil and armed police forces, Home Guards and Karnataka Industrial Security force.Besides this civil and armed police forces from several other states besides the central forces that include Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Rapid Action Force and Seema Suraksha Dal.She said 584 companies of central forces have already been deployed across the state and one more company was expected today.The central and other State police forces that have been requisitioned are drawn from Delhi, Northeastern States,Punjab,Jammu and Kashmir,Goa,Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.She said the Karnataka police had started preparations for polls as early as January 17 this year and after the Election Commission announced the dates on Mar 26 and issued notification subsequently daily reports were sent on daily basis and EC was satisfied with the security arrangements.While Additional DGP (Law and Order) Kamal Pant is in charge of deployment of police forces from Karnataka and other States,ADGP (KSRP) Sandeep Patil had been entrusted the work of deployment of central forces.Surpassing all previous records police have booked 1,229 cases of violation of Model Code of Conduct so far and Rs 166 crore cash and other election-related items have been seized.Check posts had been set up across the state and on the borders with other States to ensure that unwanted elements and material including cash was not transported to woo the voters, she added.
Mr Pant told in sensitive areas like Mangalore, Mandya, Bangalore rural, Hubli, RAF will be deployed.He said out of the 58,302 booths in the state, 12,000 have been marked as critical and 21,464 booths are being covered by paramilitary forces. Besides, this there will also be State police deployment.Police officials had started taking action for preventive custody since yesterday and rounded up thousands of anti-social elements and this will intensify this today.
Sensitive booths
The Election Commission has identified 20% (12,000) of the booths as sensitive and these booths will be primarily manned by central forces, in addition to one state police personnel with the minimum rank of head constable.
In clusters of sensitive booths, 769 quick action striking parties, primarily comprising the Rapid Action Force and the KSRP platoons.
This dedicated anti-riot police have been positioned in Mangaluru, Bengaluru (urban and rural), Mandya, Mysuru, Hubbali-Dharawad and Belgaum.
A total of 36% of the security cover will be done by central forces.Other than that, central forces will be deployed for protecting and transporting EVMs.
“Karnataka Assembly Polls 2018 Elaborate security arrangements stepped in Bengaluru for Fair and free election”.
Elaborate Security arrangements has been stepped up across bengaluru ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls on Saturday, Police Commissioner,T Suneel Kumar, on Friday told reporters, total of 10,500 policemen,4,500 armed police and 2,500 home guards are being deployed ahead of the elections on Saturday.Polling will be held across 27 of the total 28 constituencies in the state capital, after the election in Jayanagar segment was countermanded by the Election Commission due to the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate B N. Vijaya Kumar on May 4.Police personnel would be stationed across 7,477 polling stations where voting would take place from 7 am to 6 pm.We have identified 1,469 polling booths as critical (sensitive).Over 150 senior-rank police officers would monitor security across the city.Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that prohibits gathering of more than five people at one place at a time has also been imposed across the city till 6 pm on Sunday to prevent any untoward incidents he added .
