2017 Uttarakhand Assembly Elections in Single Phase on February 15,2017

7-phase polls in UP, 2-phase in Manipur, single phase in Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand; counting on March 11,2017

Election Commission on Wednesday Jan 04,2017 announced poll dates for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi addressed the media and gave out complete details for the election process. 

Announcements made by the Election Commission on assembly election dates and phases:

• Assemblies expiring on: Goa 18 March, Manipur 18 March, Punjab 18 March, Uttarakhand 26 March, and Uttar Pradesh 27 March.
• Number of constituencies: 619/690 - 133 reserved for Scheduled Castes, 23 for Scheduled Tribes.
• Millions of errors, multiple entries have been removed from the electoral rolls.
• Revised electoral rolls published on: Goa - January 5, Manipur - January 12, Punjab - January 5, Uttarakhand - January 10, and Uttar Pradesh - January 12.
• The Election Commission will distribute photo voters slip to all voters. These have been improved.
• Colourful voter guide will be distributed to all families. This will have details of polling stations, date and time of polling, ID docs that can be used, etc.
• 1.85 Lakh polling stations will be covered. This has increased by 15 per cent.
• There are over 16 crore voters in the 5 states.
• For secrecy, height of the voting compartment has been raised to 30 inches.
• Electronic Voter Machines or EVMs will be used in all states.
• As you know there is a symbol provided at bottom of EVM for 'None Of The Above' or NOTA.
• In certain constituencies there will be Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT.
• The number of constituencies with VVPAT will be increased.
• Election Commission is joining the rank of global leaders in the area of electronic transmission of votes. This is a historic (first) step.
• Electronic transmission of votes done keeping in mind defence personnel.
• Postal votes will be transmitted one-way in certain constituencies.
• Candidates will be required to file a no demand certificate.
• The rules have also been changed. Candidates will have to fix a photograph on nomination paper. They will have to declare that they are citizens of India, not sought foreign citizenship.
• The model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.
• The Election Commission is determined to ensure strict compliance.
• In the last 72 hours there are reports of malpractices, so new SOP has been introduced.
• The Election Commission is discouraging parties from using any environmentally hazardous materials for publicity. We also discourage the use of loudspeakers.
• We will conduct elections in free and fair manner.

Model Code of Conduct comes into effect in 5 states immediately The limit of electoral expenses for individual candidates is Rs 28 Lakh for UP, Punjab and Uttarakhand; Rs 20 Lakh for Manipur and Goa EVMs will be used in all states Ballot paper on EVMs will have photo of candidates



Uttarakhand will go to the polls on:  February 15,2017(single phase)
Date of notification: January 20
Last date of nomination: January 27
Population in 2011: 1.01 crore
Assembly seats: 70
Reserved for candidates belonging to scheduled caste: 13
Reserved for candidates belonging to scheduled tribes: 2
Parties in power: Congress, BSP, Progressive Democratic Front
Chief Minister: Harish Rawat
Other contenders: BJP comprises BSP, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (progressive) and independents
Party-wise seats in assembly poll 2012 (total seats 70)
PARTY WON VOTE %
Indian National Congress 32 33.79
Bharatiya Janata Party 31 33.13%
Independent 3 12.34%
Bahujan Samaj Party 3 12.19%
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal(P) 1 1.93%
Lok Sabha Result 2014 (Total Seats 5)
PARTY WON VOTE %
BJP 5 55.93%
Issues Likely to Dominate
- Demonetisation
- Sustainable development
- Livelihoods and infrastructure that is equipped to handle ecological disasters that the region is prone to.
- Unemployment remains high and the vulnerability to ecological disasters has only increased. while the state is rich in minerals,
- Irregular mining has made the hill region more prone to floods, landslides and related natural disasters, causing immense damage to life and property.