5.3 crore registered voters in state, 58,545 polling booths to be set up

BENGALURU: The final voter list for the May 10 Assembly polls has been finalised and there are 5,30,85,566 registered voters who account for 75 per cent of the state’s population, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena announced on Wednesday. Taking into account voters in Services, the number goes up to 5,31,33,054, he said.

Addressing a press conference, the CEO said there will be 58,545 polling booths and facilities like fans, drinking water and health staff have been provided considering the summer heat. Pandals will also be put up and a token system will be introduced in some places. An app has been launched to find the location of the polling booth and the queue at the booth. So far, 38 lakh EPIC cards have been distributed, he said.

Meena said there are 2,64,28,053 registered male voters, 2,64,00,074 female voters and 4,927 Others. Of the registered voters, 11,71,558 are youth voters, 5,71,281 specially abled, 12,15,920 voters aged 80-plus and 3,048 NRIs.

M-3 EVM

He also said that so far, 673 cases have been registered for electoral malpractice including 15 cases for using religious places for campaigning, five cases for hate speech, 35 cases for violating internet norms. Ahead of the election, 69,778 firearms have been deposited with the authorities, 18 firearms seized and 20 arms licences have been cancelled. Also, 673 FIRs have been registered for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, he added.

During searches across the state, Rs 88,03,02,632 in cash, 15,73,147.831 litres of liquor worth Rs 59,92,49,246, drugs weighing 1,285 kg worth Rs 17,14,78,171, gold ornaments weighing 147.77 kg and worth Rs 75,15,03,492, and silver articles weighing 615.63 and worth Rs 4,32,61,097 have been seized so far, the CEO noted.

Meena said 54,682 civil police personnel, 20,000 Home Guards, 90 platoons of the KSRP, 5,037 platoons of the CAR/DAR and 650 platoons of the SAP/CAPF will be deployed to ensure smooth electioneering process.