EC announces poll dates for UP, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand in India

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Wednesday announced the poll dates for the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

He was addressing a press conference in New Delhi to announce the election schedule. According to the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh will have a 7-phase election, Manipur will have a 2-phase poll, while Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand will have single-phase polls.

1. Uttar Pradesh votes in seven phases for the 403 seats:

• Phase I votes on February 11
• Phase II votes on February 15
• Phase III votes on February 19
• Phase IV votes on February 23
• Phase V votes on February 27
• Phase VI votes on March 4
• Phase VII votes on March 8

2. Punjab will vote in a single-phase poll

• Poll date: February 4

3. Goa elections will be held in a single phase

• Poll date: February 4

4. Manipur elections to be held in 2 phases:

• Phase 1 polling on March 4
• Phase 2 polling on March 8
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5. Uttarakhand polls to be held on in a single phase.

• Poll date: February 15

Counting will take place on March 11, Saturday, for all the five states.

Other Highlights

• All expenses by candidates above Rs 20,000 to be cashless
• The Election Commission announcing the poll dates for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi addressing the media.
• Nearly 16 crore voters will be participating in the polls.
• Electoral roll of Goa will be published on Jan 5, Manipur on Jan 12, Punjab Jan 5, Uttarakhand on Jan 10 and UP on Jan 12.
• There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips, colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family.
• Height of voting compartment raised to ensure complete privacy.
• Separate polling stations for women in certain areas, all-women polling stations will also be set up.
• 185,000 polling stations in all the five states for 690 assembly seats.
• Ballot paper will have photo of candidates.
• Voter assistant booth for physically challenged in each polling station.
• Coloured voter slips for the first time.
• ECI to distribute Voters’ Guide to facilitate voters; there will be voters Assistance booth manned by officials.
• Every polling station will have 4 posters for voting procedure and dos and don’ts.
• Model code of conduct comes into effect immediately.
• Limit of expense is Rs 28 lakh per candidate in Punjab, Uttarakhand, UP and Rs 20 lakh in Manipur and Goa is Rs 20 lakh.
• Candidates will be required to open bank accounts and expenses over Rs 20,000 will be by way of cheque from this bank account.
• Candidates will be required to affix photo on nomination papers, he will be required to mention that he is citizen of India.