LOK SABHA ELECTIONS 2019: Here are different ways you can cast your vote for the big 2019 general election

On Sunday evening, CEC Sunil Arora announced that the Election Commission will be implementing a comprehensive plan for the 2019 elections that will ensure that the polls are free and fair. In order to make the voting process smooth, the EC announced that different ways have now been introduced, through which a voter can cast their vote this Lok Sabha election. 

Addressing a press conference the Election Commission said: 

• A voter's guide in vernacular English is being handed over during elections to every household.  
• Below the name of the last candidate, there will be a button for a NOTA option for the voters, who do not wish to vote for any of the candidates. 
• In an effort to eliminate confusion in mind of the voters, a button is available, which if pressed, a photograph of the candidate will appear. This is done to make sure that the voters make a more conscious choice. 
• Voter assistant booths will be set up at every polling station to extend the facilitation to the voters. 
• There are 10 lakh polling stations in 2019, as compared to the nine lakhs previously in 2014 to increase accessibility. 

Apart from this, around 22.3 lakh ballot Units, 16.3 lakh control units and nearly 17.3 lakh VVPATs will be used for the forthcoming elections. In addition to this, basic facilities like drinking water, electricity, etc will be provided at all polling stations.

The Chief Election Commissioner also revealed that in comparison to the 814.5 million people who had voted in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, 900 million would be voting in 2019. 

With the election dates being announced, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect.

The election is going to take place in seven phases instead of 9 as compared to 2014 elections.

• 1st phase polling to be held on 11th April, 
• 2nd phase on 18th April, 
• 3rd phase on 23rd April, 
• 4th phase on 29th April, 
• 5th phase on 6th May, 
• 6th phase on 12th May, 
• 7th phase on 19th May.

With the dates for the all-important Lok Sabha polls now announced, the various political parties and the citizens of India have complete clarity on exactly when the country will once again undertake the largest exercise in democracy anywhere in the world.