Poll Staff Reach Distribution Centres As Municipal Election Preparations Intensify

Arrangements have been made for the smooth and peaceful conduct of municipal elections scheduled for Sunday, November 1, across Nellore, Tirupati and Prakasam districts, with polling personnel reaching distribution centres to collect election materials.

Nellore district collector and Election Officer Himanshu Shukla inspected the reception and distribution centre at DLNR High School in Buchireddypalem on Saturday. He reviewed arrangements for polling in Nellore Municipal Corporation and Buchireddypalem and Atmakur municipalities.

Shukla directed officials to verify ballot boxes, ballot papers and other polling materials before distribution and ensure strict compliance with State Election Commission guidelines.

In Tirupati district, collector Dr S. Venkateswar said arrangements had been completed for elections to Tirupati Municipal Corporation and four municipalities. Around 2,500 police personnel have been deployed. Sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations will be monitored through webcasting, video recording and micro-observers.

Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm. Special facilities have been arranged for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Prakasam collector P. Rajababu inspected the command control centre at the collectorate, which will monitor live webcasting from polling stations in Ongole Municipal Corporation and Chimakurthy and Addanki municipalities. CCTV cameras have been installed in every polling room and linked to the centre.

Officials have been instructed to promptly forward complaints received through the 1077 toll-free helpline to the concerned Returning Officers.

Polling materials were also being prepared at the PVKN Government Degree College reception centre in Chittoor, where personnel were making arrangements for the municipal elections.