Bihar Assembly Election 2020 , Bihar Poll Dates, Schedule | time today

Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Dates Live Updates: After all, the dates of Bihar assembly elections have been announced. During the press conference on Friday, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora informed about the voting in three phases in Bihar. With this, it has become clear that there will be voting on 243 assembly seats of the state. After the release of the election program, all political parties have stepped up their strategic preparations. Know the complete information of Bihar Election 2020.

In the first phase of voting, 71 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts will go to polls; in the second phase, 94 constituencies in 17 districts will vote; and in the third and last phase, voting will be held in 78 constituencies in 15 districts.

“Elections entail large scale deployment of security forces. We have tried to minimise their movement over long distances. This is due to their fatigue as well as Covid-19. We have reduced the number of phases to three due to this,” said Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora while addressing the press in New Delhi.

Amid the pandemic, several measure have been taken for campaigning and polling to ensure safety of leaders and voters. Polling has been extended by one hour from 7 am to 6 pm. The last hour will be reserved for those with Covid-19 and who are quarantined.

Several countries have held elections amid the pandemic. However, CEC Arora said the Bihar polls are likely to be the largest elections conducted during the pandemic given there are with 72.9 million electors in the state.

  ELECTION SCHEDULE:

- 1st Phase: 28 October, 71 Seats

- 2nd Phase: 3 November, 94 Seats

- 3rd Phase: 7 November, 78 Seats

- Counting: 10 November

Bihar Assembly elections 2020: EC guidelines for polls amid Covid-19

The Election Commission has announced a list of guidelines that will be followed during the Bihar elections to ensure safety from Covid-19. Here are some of meaures that will be taken:

Polling hours have been increased by one hour. Voting from 7 am to 6 pm instead of the usual 5 pm. (Except for in LWE areas)
Covid-19 patients and suspected cases will be allowed to vote in the last hour of the poll day
All physical contact has been prohibited during the campaign
Postal ballot facility will be provided for those above the age of 80
The EC said 7 lakh hand sanitisers, 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE kits, 6.7 lakh face shields and 23 lakh pairs of hand gloves have been arranged for Bihar polls.
There will be a sharp eye on social media

This time the number of personnel engaged in security has also been increased. All polling stations will be on the ground floor. Information about the candidates has to be given on the website. Case information will be made public on the candidates. Security deposits will also have to be submitted online. The Election Commissioner said that the use of social media is also a challenge. If anyone tries to create tension in the society on social media, then legal action will be taken on it.

Voting time extended

The Election Commissioner said that in view of the current situation, the voting time has been extended by an hour. Except for the Naxalite affected areas, there will be voting in the general areas between 7 and 6 in the morning instead of 7 to 5 in the morning.

Covid-19 patients can vote in the last hour of voting process

Apart from postal facility, those with Covid-19 who are quarantined can vote in the last hour of voting. Polling time has been increased by one hour, and will not be held from 7 am to 6 pm. 

Mask, sanitizer, PPE kit will be used

Elections will be held in 243 seats in Bihar, till 29 November in the state. This time the number of polling stations and manpower has been increased. More than seven crore voters will vote in the 2020 elections in Bihar. This time there will be only one thousand voters at one booth.

This time 6 lakh PPE kits will be given to the State Election Commission, 46 lakh masks will also be used. Seven lakh hand sanitizers will be used, along with 6 lakh face shields will be used. There are more than 18 lakh migrant laborers, out of which 16 lakh can cast their votes. People up to the age of 80 will be able to vote with the postal ballot.