Additional security forces will reach the city by May 10. The troupes are already conducting route march in various significant places in order to convey people the message of free and peaceful franchise, he informed.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said a list of places would be prepared within a couple of days, where the security forces would keep a special eye. Even after classifying areas as sensitive and hyper sensitive, there is a necessity to look into the situation of such places separately, he observed, adding that special attention will be given to Naxal infested areas.

Total voters

As per the final list of voters prepared within the specified date, there are 13,33,094 voters in Dakshina Kannada, comprising 6,58,287 men and 6,74,807 women.

Following are the constituency-wise statistics: Belthangady - 1,72,894, Moodabidri - 1,52,949, Mangalore North - 1,82,753, Mangalore South - 1,85,484, Mangalore - 1,41,838, Bantwal - 1,72,765, Puttur - 1,61,036, Sullia - 1,63,375.

Photo ID cards

Mr Rao said the total achievement done in providing election photo identity cards (EPIC) can be figured in as 79.62 per cent. Out of the total 13,33,094 voters in the district 10,61,455 have been given EPIC while 2,71,639 people are yet to get them.

As many as 89,116 voters have been given ID cards in the ongoing special drive, he informed.

It is Mangalore South, that comparatively lags behind in the progress of EPIC drive (63 per cent). Belthangady (87.4%), Moodabidri (78.5%), Mangalore North (68.6%), Mangalore (82.5%), Bantwal (88.8%), Puttur (80.5%) and Sullia (90.5%) have proved fairly better. The DC appealed the voters of Mangalore South constituency to make better use of the special drive.

Change of booths

Mr Rao said the Election Commission has approved the change of 5 polling booths in three constituencies for the convenience of voters.

The Kondemula booth at Sri Durgaparameshwari College, Kateel has been shifted to Sri Durgaparameshwari Higher Primary School; the Jokatte booth located at DK ZP Higher Primary School, Jokatte (South) has been shifted to DK ZP Higher Primary School, Borugudde; the Kodical booth at Anganwadi centre has been shifted to DK ZP Model Higher Primary School, Kodical; the booth at Kannur English Medium HP School (west) has been shifted to Anganwadi centre, Veeranagara; the booth at old gram panchayat office, Kannur (west) has been shifted to Kannur English Medium HP School (west).

Agents, EVMs

The polling agents should be localites, without any criminal background. The appointment order as an agent should be within oneself until the polling ends, the DC said.

The electronic voting machines have been handed over to all electoral officers after randomisation.

Another round of randomisation will be done when the EVMs are be distributed to all polling booths in order to ensure transparency, he informed.

Canara PU College and Canara Degree College in Kodialbail will be used for storing EVMs and documents after polling, and same venues will be used for counting, he added.