EC Presser Highlights: Election Commission vows 'Covid-safe' polls, bans political rallies till January 15

Five states to vote in 7 phases from February 10 to March 7; counting of votes on March 10. Seven phase elections announced for Uttar Pradesh. Single-phase polls in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa on Feb 14. Two-phase polls in Manipur on Feb 27 and March 3. Election Commission has banned political rallies, roadshows and padayatras till January 15, similar to 'campaign curfew', says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Assembly Elections 2022: Full list of Covid-19 protocols

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said Election Commission seeks to conduct 'Covid-safe' elections. He said that the ECI held meetings with Union Health Secretary and Home Secretary, experts, and health secretaries of states. After taking into account their views and ground situation, the ECI decided to announce polls with safety norms in place, Chandra said.

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Manipur Assembly Election 2022: Full list of voting dates, phases, constituency-wise voting

The voting will take place in two phases to elect 60 members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

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Goa Assembly Election 2022: Full list of voting dates, phases, constituency-wise voting

Goa Assembly Elections 2022 will be held in a single phase on February 14, for all 40 constituencies, and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.

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Punjab Assembly Election 2022: Full list of voting dates, phases, constituency-wise voting

The voting to elect 117 members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly will be conducted on February 14, 2022, in a single phase. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

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Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2022: Full list of voting dates, phases, constituency-wise voting

The polls to elect 403 members of the Legislative Assembly will begin on February 10 and will be held in seven phases, till March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

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Schedule for assembly elections in five states

Credit: Youtube/ElectionCommission

Single-phase polls in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa on Feb 14. Two-phase polls in Manipur on Feb 27 and March 3. Counting of votes on March 10.

Seven phase elections announced for Uttar Pradesh

Phase 1: Feb 10
Phase 2: Feb 14
Phase 3: Feb 20
Phase 4: Feb 23
Phase 5: Feb 27
Phase 6: Mar 3
Phase 7: Mar 7
Counting of votes on March10

Elections for all five states will be completed in a total of seven phases,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

LIVE: Election schedule for five assembly elections

Campaign curfew between 8 PM and 8 AM throughout election process,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Election Commission bans political rallies, road shows and padayatras till January 15, similar to 'campaign curfew',says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Candidates are advised to conduct their campaign via digital or virtual mode and not physical mode,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

In view of Covid-19, the polling time will be increased by an hour in all five states.

For strengthening democracy, 50-60% voting is not sufficient. EC will have targeted intervention. Polling booths were voting is less compared to average identified and EC to take steps to find out the reasons and increasing voting there,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

All election officials and employees must be doubly vaccinated. Union Health Ministry has also declared them frontline workers, so they are eligible for the precaution dose (booster dose),says CEC Sushil Chandra

Candidates contesting polls will be given an option for online nomination, says CEC Sushil Chandra.

It is mandatory for political parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases selected as poll candidates. They will also have to give a reason to select the candidate,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Senior citizens above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities & Covid-19 patients can vote by postal ballot, says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Model Code of Conduct to come into force immediately after the announcement of the schedule for elections in five states.

Campaign expenditure will now be Rs 40 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. And Rs 28 lakh in Goa and Manipur,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

IAS, IPS officers will act as observers during the elections,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

All critical events of the polling will be videographed,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, voters are now restricted to 1,250 per polling booth, reduced from 1500. This means a 16 per cent increase in the polling booths,says CEC Sushil Chandra

As many as 25 lakh are registered as first-time voters, out of which over 11 lakh are women voters,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

690 Assembly constituencies in five states to go to polls. 18.34 crore voters are set to take part in the upcoming assembly elections, says CEC Sushil Chandra.

As Covid-19 cases soared in view of Omicron variant, ECI held meetings with Union Health Secretary & Home Secretary, experts, & health secretaries of States. After taking these views & ground situation, ECI decided to announce polls with safety norms in place,says CEC Sushil Chandra.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with ECI officials arrives at Vigyan Bhawan

Covid-19 protocols for assembly elections likely to be announced

Besides the poll schedule, Covid-19 protocols will also be announced amid the rising number of cases across India.

Last week, the poll body held a meeting with the Health Ministry to discuss the current Covid situation in the five states.

The Health Ministry had submitted a report on the resurgence and the status of vaccination coverage across the nation.

Several political parties have already announced cancellation of political rallies and are focusing more on digital campaigns in the wake of the unabated surge.

While the term of the current Uttar Pradesh assembly is ending in May, those of the other four assemblies are ending on different dates in March.

The poll body has convened a press conference in which it will declare the schedule for the polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.

Assembly Elections 2022: EC to announce poll dates for 5 states at 3.30 pm today

The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule for Assembly elections to Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh at 3.30 pm today. Read more

Hello readers and welcome to our live coverage of a press conference by the Election Commission of India where it will announce the schedule for Assembly elections to Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.