JOIN USThe number of registered voters in the state will cross five crore for the May 12 Assembly elections, said Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar.
Speaking at a media interaction organised by Press Club of Bengaluru and Bengaluru Reporters' Guild on Saturday, Kumar said: "There are currently 4.96 crore voters in the state, the new voters are registering themselves in large numbers. The third gender community, tribals and homeless people have also registered their names in the list, this will take the number of voters beyond five crores."
The Election Commission has set up 58,000 polling booths across the state, where 3.65 lakh personnel will be deployed for election work. "At least five dedicated all-women polling booths called 'pink polling booths ' will be set up in city areas and one booth in villages," he added.
To facilitate the physically challenged and senior citizens to cast their votes, the Election Commission will be setting up booths in the basements of the building and, officials have undertaken a survey to create such dedicated booths, Kumar said.
Rs 43 crore seized
The Election Commission has set up 2,500 checkpoints in the state to track poll irregularities.
"We have seized Rs 43 worth valuables and cash since the model code of conduct came into force. The flying squads' vehicles equipped with GPS have been enforcing the model code of conduct, " he explained.
"During the last elections, as many as 1,157 FIRs were registered under the IPC and the Representation of People Act for violation of model code of conduct. Of these, 1,008 charge sheets have been filed and 299 convictions have been made in Karnataka, which is close to 26% in comparison to the national rate of 12-16 %" Kumar stated.