Assembly polls 2016: Key takeaways

The Assembly Elections 2016 is notable in many ways. For the first time, all the four states-Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam, and Puducherry will have it in phases spanning across 43 days. Apart from this, the election commission too has made arrangements to make the polls all-inclusive and easily accessible for all classes and sections of society.

Here are some of the exceptions one can observe this election:

Symbol for NOTA

Designed for the National School of Design, the NOTA (None of the Above) symbol will appear in all polling booths. Placed

at the bottom of the list of all candidates, the NOTA will be implemented for the first time.

Booths to have basic facilities, all-women booths

Keeping in mind the various necessities of voters, all the booths will have basic facilities, including those required by women. All including, 7 basic facilities will be provided. The Election Commission also said that polling centres will be established in blind schools and leprosy centers to ensure inclusiveness.

[Read: Assembly polls 2016: Know about the 4 states, Puducherry]

Security

Mobile squads will be provided with GPS-fitted vehicles. They will be accompanied by central forces so that polls are conducted without any hindrance. However, their numbers have yet not been confirmed, the Election Commission said that the number of security personnel have gone up as compared to 2011.

All polling stations in Assam and West Bengal will be covered by CRPF. Each district would have five Central observers to monitor the elections. To ensure impartial poling, the EC has already ordered the transfer of officials above the rank of sub inspectors and working above 3 years in that area to be transferred.

[Read: Tamil Nadu polls 2016: DMK, DMDK inch closer to alliance]

The EC did not name the officials to avoid any poser for proximity situation. It has ensured that only those neutral will be assigned poll-related work.

When asked about duplicity of voters in Kerala, Zaidi said a latest software has been used to delete multiple entries. He further added,"We will now investigate whether it was an inadvertent mistake or a mischief."

Enrolling voters and electoral roll verification

The commission has allowed new voters to enrol themselves 10 days from the last date of nomination. CEC Nasim Zaidi, however said that the voters should check their names in the electoral rolls and that mere photo ID card is not enough.

[Read: Poll dates announced: Political fronts in Kerala all set for assembly elections 2016]

Candidates photo in EVMs

To avoid any kind of confusion among voters, the candidates photo will be printed beside their names on the EVM.