The second phase of election training for polling staff in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) assembly elections 2024 kicked off at the Town Hall in Doda district on Sunday. This crucial training session was attended by Presiding Officers (PO), P1, P2, and P3 personnel, who were instructed on operating electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs).
The training, supervised by the appointed General Observer, is designed to ensure that polling staff are thoroughly prepared for the election process. The session included practical exercises and hands-on demonstrations to help participants understand the equipment and procedures they will be using. This initiative is part of the Election Commission’s broader strategy to ensure a seamless and transparent election process by equipping all personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge.
As the training continues, polling staff are expected to gain a comprehensive understanding of their roles, ensuring they adhere to guidelines and maintain election integrity. The upcoming assembly elections will see Jammu and Kashmir voting after a decade, with polling scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes is set for October 8.
In political developments, Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched the party’s campaign for the J-K Assembly elections with rallies on September 4. The Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance has outlined its seat-sharing formula and secured support from the Samajwadi Party (SP). The elections mark the first since the abrogation of Article 370 and follow the dissolution of the PDP-BJP coalition government in June 2018.