Page 264 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

conduct those elec ons before the turn of the year. Thus These were the first elec ons since the Registra on of
on October 14, 2022 elec ons to the 68-seated Himachal Electors (Amendment) Rules, 2022 were no fied by
Pradesh Legisla ve Assembly were announced. The Ministry of Law and Jus ce in June, 2022. During these
single phased poll was scheduled on November 12, 2022. elec ons, the benefit of all four qualifying dates viz. January
Similarly, elec ons to the 182-seated Gujarat Legisla ve 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, 2022 became available to
Assembly were announced on November 3, 2022. The the electors comple ng 18 years. A total of 3,24,420
two-phased polling was scheduled for December 1 and 5, addi onal new voters in Gujarat and 43,173 voters in
2022. A string of bye-polls in six Assembly Cons tuencies Himachal Pradesh thus became eligible who would
in five states, and one Parliamentary Cons tuency were otherwise have missed the opportunity to enroll if there
also due. They were thus taken up simultaneously.
was a single reference date of January 1, 2022 as previously.
Notwithstanding normalcy in COVID-19 condi ons, the
Commission cau oned the state administra ons not To maximise the enrollment of peripheral groups like
against dropping their guard. The respec ve Chief PwDs, transgender persons and sex workers the Elec on
Secretaries and other officers in Gujarat and Himachal Commission collaborated with accredited government
Pradesh were directed to ensure strict compliance with and non-governmental agencies. NACO (Na onal AIDS
advisories issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Control Organiza on) - under Ministry of Health and
par cularly adherence to five fold strategy of Test, Track, Family Welfare- was collaborated with to ensure
Treat, Vaccina on and COVID appropriate behavior. maximum enrollment of sex workers. There was focus on

An improvised shipping container acts as polling station in Vagra AC, Dist Baruch (Gujarat) sparing 217 electors the trouble to travel 80 km for voting

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