SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The election campaign for two Lok Sabha seats in the State will come to an end on Sunday evening. Goa goes to polls in the third phase of polling on Tuesday, May 7.
The poll preparations are in full swing to ensure smooth and efficient voting processes in both thae districts and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ramesh Verma disclosed several initiatives staating that voters' participation is important in the electoral process to run the democracy successfully.
A total of 1,725 polling stations have been set up across the State, with 863 in the North Goa and 862 in the South Goa Parliamentary constituency for voters to exercise their franchise on May 7.
Among these polling stations, 43 model polling booths have been set uap in North Goa and 45 in South Goa.
According to the State Election Office, medical camps will be set up for senior citizens at eight model polling stations in a areas where there is a higher percentage of elderly voters. After casting their votes, senior citiazens can avail basic facilities of health checks provided by doctors from the Directorate of Health Services.
At the designated booths, voters after exercising their franchise will be provided with vehicles to go at the identified locations (highway) to plant the saplings of medicinal or fruit bearing trees and take a selfie with the saplings. The polling team will plant at least five saplings/plants in each polling station with a target to plant 7,500 plants. The plantation drive will be conducted by a polling team immediately after setting up the polling booth.
There will be 40 green polling stations and eco-friendly booths will be decorated using environmentally sustainable materials such as bamboo and coconut leaves, etc.
There will be 40 pink booths exclusively managed by women officials, eight PwD-friendly polling stations –Divyang polling stations established in both districts, with five in North Goa and three in South Goa. These booths will be managed exclusively by PwD officials and equipped with AMF facilities such as wheelchair access (ramp), Braille features in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), volunteers, wheelchair and other amenities to facilitate easy accessibility for PwD voters without any hassle.
Two polling stations will be managed by youth, one in each district. Booths with traditional fishing theme - Special theme-based polling stations have been set up in both, North and South Goa district. In Panjim, the unique booth at Part 3 Admin Block No.G5, old GMC Ribandar and at Cumbarjua at 01-Government Primary School, Vanxim, Sao Mathias will have a theme centred around traditional fishing.
In South Goa, the unique booth at polling booth No 36, Margao Municipal Council, will be housed in an old heritage building. The historical theme of the building will be highlighted through decorations such as slide shows, posters, banners, and other decorative items. Additionally, the traffic island adjacent to the building will also be adorned accordingly.
