Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Interesting facts about phase-4 polling on May 13

The Election Commission of India is all geared up for the phase-4 of the General Elections on May 13. In phase 4, polling will happen for 96 Parliamentary Constituencies across 10 States/UTs; all 175 seats of State Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats of State Legislative Assembly of Odisha simultaneously.

Polling time in certain assembly segments of 17 Parliamentary Constituencies of Telangana was increased by the Commission (from 7 am till 6 pm) to increase voters’ participation.

So far, till phase 3 of the General Elections 2024, polling has concluded smoothly and peacefully in 283 PCs and 20 States/UTs. Counting of votes is scheduled for the 4th of June.

Interesting Facts About Phase-4 Polling

1. Polling for Phase-4 of the General Elections 2024 will be held on 13^th of May, 2024 for 96 Parliamentary Constituencies (General-64; ST- 12; SC-20) in 10 States/ UTs. Voting begins at 7AM and ends at 6 PM (Closure of Poll timings may differ PC wise)
2. Elections will also take place for all 175 seats (General-139; ST-7; SC-29) of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and 28 seats (General-11; ST-14; SC-3) of Odisha Legislative Assembly simultaneously in phase 4 on the 13th of May.
3. 1717 candidates from 10 States /UTs to contest elections in phase 4 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The average number of contesting candidates in a PC for 4th Phase is 18.
4. 122 air sorties done in phase 4 in three states (AP -02, Jharkhand- 108; Odisha -12) to ferry polling and security officials
5. Over 19 lakh Polling officials will welcome over 17.7 crore voters across 1.92 lakh polling stations
6. Over 17.70 crore voters including 8.97 crore Male; 8.73 crore Female voters.
7. There are over 12.49 lakh registered 85+ years old and 19.99 lakh persons with disabilities (PwD) voters for phase 4 who have been provided the option to vote from the comfort of their homes. The optional Home Voting facility is already receiving tremendous appreciation and response.
8. 364 Observers (126 General Observers, 70 Police Observers, 168 Expenditure Observers) for the phase 4 of General Elections 2024 have already reached their Constituencies days before the polls. They serve as the eyes and ears of the Commission to exercise utmost vigilance. Additionally, Special Observers have been deployed in certain states.
9. A total of 4661 Flying Squads, 4438 Static Surveillance Teams, 1710 Video Surveillance Teams and 934 Video Viewing Teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to deal with any form of inducement of voters strictly and swiftly.
10. A total of 1016 inter-state and 121 international Border check posts are keeping strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept at sea and air routes.
11. Assured Minimum Facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, wheelchairs, and electricity are in place to ensure that every voter, including elderly and persons with disabilities, can cast their vote with ease.
12. Voter Information Slips have been distributed to all registered voters. These slips serve as a facilitation measure and also as an invitation from the Commission to come and vote.
13. Voters can check their polling station details, and poll date through this link https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/
14. The Commission has also provided 12 alternative documents other than Voter id card (EPIC) for identity verification at polling stations. If a voter is registered in the electoral roll, voting can be done by showing any of these documents.
15. Data on Voter Turnout in General Elections to Lok Sabha 2019 is available on the following links: https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/13579-13-pc-wise-voters-turn-out/
16. Since phase 3, voter turnout App is updated with a new feature of displaying overall approximate turnout live for each phase. It is pertinent to note that Phase wise/State wise/AC wise/PC wise approximate turnout data is available on voter turnout App live on two hourly basis on poll day till 7 pm after which it is continuously updated on arrival of polling parties.

These numbers correspond to just one of the seven phases of Lok Sabha Election 2024. Beyond simple statistics, these numbers give an idea of scale of activity during the biggest democratic event on the planet.