In the democratic process, polling stations play a crucial role. These are the places where eligible voters cast their ballots during elections. Let’s delve into the details of polling stations for the upcoming General Elections 2024.
1. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Overview
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in the country. As we approach the 2024 elections, the ECP has released important information regarding polling stations.
2. Number of Polling Stations
- Punjab: There will be a total of 50,944 polling stations in Punjab.
- Men: 14,556 polling stations
- Women: 14,036 polling stations
- Joint (for both men and women): 22,352 polling stations
- Sindh: Sindh will have 19,060 polling stations:
- Male: 4,439 polling stations
- Female: 4,308 polling stations
- Joint: 10,259 polling stations
3. Polling Scheme and Form-28
- The polling scheme (Form-28) outlines the distribution of polling stations across constituencies.
- It provides essential details such as location, accessibility, and facilities available at each station.
4. Code of Conduct
- The ECP has established a code of conduct for various stakeholders:
- Armed Forces / Civil Armed Forces: Guidelines to ensure neutrality during elections.
- Security Officials: Rules to maintain law and order.
- Political Parties, Contesting Candidates, and Election Agents: Ethical guidelines.
- National Observers and Media: Standards for impartial reporting.
5. Training Material
- The ECP provides training material for election officials:
- District Returning Officers (DROs)
- Returning Officers (ROs)
- Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers (PrOs)
6. Voter Awareness
- Videos are available to educate voters on:
- Nomination and scrutiny processes
- Election material handling
- Pre-poll and poll activities
- Form-45 and Form-46 procedures
7. Allocation of Election Symbols
- Political parties receive specific symbols for identification on the ballot.
- Independent candidates are assigned remaining symbols.
8. Postal Ballot
- The process for postal voting is outlined in Form-31.
- Reserved seats for non-Muslims in the National Assembly are also considered.
Conclusion
As citizens, understanding the functioning of polling stations empowers us to participate actively in the democratic process. On election day, let’s exercise our right to vote responsibly and contribute to shaping our nation’s future.
For more detailed information, you can visit the Election Commission of Pakistan’s official website.
Remember, every vote counts! 🗳️🇵🇰
Who are eligible to vote in Pakistan?
For the 2024 General Elections in Pakistan, a total of 128,585,760 registered voters are eligible to cast their votes. Among these registered voters, approximately 53.87% are men (69,263,704) and 46.13% are women (59,322,056). Notably, since the 2018 general elections, over 22 million new voters have been added to the voter list, making it a significant increase
In summary, any Pakistani citizen who is above 18 years of age is eligible to vote. On election day, citizens exercise their democratic right by visiting their designated polling stations and participating in the electoral process.