Sensorial - a Software for identification of Critical Polling Stations District Election Department, Howrah, West Bengal Sharing Best Electoral Practices

SensorialSensorial- a Software for identification of Critical - a Software for identification of Critical

Polling StationsPolling Stations

District Election Department, Howrah, West BengalSharing Best Electoral Practices adopted in the Last General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2009

District – District – HOWRAHHOWRAHWest BengalWest Bengal

Objective -Objective -To identify the Critical Polling Stations by applying the To identify the Critical Polling Stations by applying the criteria indicated by the Election Commission of India, criteria indicated by the Election Commission of India,

andand

rank them in order of their criticality.rank them in order of their criticality.

SO THATSO THAT


• Deployment of Central Police Deployment of Central Police Forces / Flying SquadsForces / Flying Squads

• Deployment of Micro Observers.Deployment of Micro Observers.• Deployment of Videographers / Deployment of Videographers /

Photographers Photographers

could be could be rationalizedrationalized

Guiding Circulars of ECI -Guiding Circulars of ECI -

• Letter No 464/INST/2007-PLN-I dated 12Letter No 464/INST/2007-PLN-I dated 12thth October, 2007 October, 2007 : Regarding Vulnerability Mapping. : Regarding Vulnerability Mapping.

• Letter No 464/INST/2008-EPS-I dated 24Letter No 464/INST/2008-EPS-I dated 24thth October, 2008 October, 2008 : Regarding Identification of Critical Polling Stations. : Regarding Identification of Critical Polling Stations.

• Letter No 447/2007/PLN/IV dated 17Letter No 447/2007/PLN/IV dated 17thth January, 2007 January, 2007 : Regarding Use of Videography and Digital Cameras. : Regarding Use of Videography and Digital Cameras.

• Letter No 464/INST/2008/EPS dated 24Letter No 464/INST/2008/EPS dated 24thth October, 2008 October, 2008 : Regarding Appointment of Micro Observers. : Regarding Appointment of Micro Observers.

• Letter No 464/INST/2008-EPS dated 24Letter No 464/INST/2008-EPS dated 24thth October, 2008 October, 2008 : Regarding Roll of Central Police Forces : Regarding Roll of Central Police Forces


• Polling Station details Polling Station details

• Non EPIC votersNon EPIC voters

• Missing voter without family linkageMissing voter without family linkage

• Vulnerable Hamlet detailsVulnerable Hamlet details

• Form 20 of 2004 and 2006 ElectionsForm 20 of 2004 and 2006 Elections

• Repoll dataRepoll data

Data Used -Data Used -


1.1. Non-EPIC data: An analysis of the polling station wise number Non-EPIC data: An analysis of the polling station wise number of voters without EPIC (non EPIC voters) have been made. of voters without EPIC (non EPIC voters) have been made. The polling stations have been sorted in descending order in The polling stations have been sorted in descending order in terms of number of non-EPIC voters in order to prioritize.terms of number of non-EPIC voters in order to prioritize.

2.2. No of missing voters without family links: The existence of No of missing voters without family links: The existence of missing voters without family links offers a scope for misuse missing voters without family links offers a scope for misuse and malpractice. The number of voters coming under the this and malpractice. The number of voters coming under the this category have been analyzed polling station wise and the category have been analyzed polling station wise and the Polling Station with large number of such voters have been Polling Station with large number of such voters have been marked. For this purpose the total number of such missing marked. For this purpose the total number of such missing voters without family linkage have been divided by the total voters without family linkage have been divided by the total number of polling stations to workout the assembly number of polling stations to workout the assembly constituency average. Analyzing the deviation from the above constituency average. Analyzing the deviation from the above the average, we have identified the polling stations with large the average, we have identified the polling stations with large number of such voters.number of such voters.

3.3. Vulnerability mapping of hamlets/villages/electoral segments Vulnerability mapping of hamlets/villages/electoral segments vulnerable for threat and intimidation: Polling stations vulnerable for threat and intimidation: Polling stations identified as having vulnerable pockets have been listed. identified as having vulnerable pockets have been listed.

Methodology - Methodology -


Methodology - Methodology -

4.4. Polling percentage more than 75% and where more than Polling percentage more than 75% and where more than 75% of votes have been recorded in favour of one 75% of votes have been recorded in favour of one candidate in past general elections: - The polling station candidate in past general elections: - The polling station wise election results available in Form 20 with reference wise election results available in Form 20 with reference to the past general election have been analyzed. All such to the past general election have been analyzed. All such Polling Station where percentage of poll recorded is Polling Station where percentage of poll recorded is more than 75% and where more than 75% of votes have more than 75% and where more than 75% of votes have been recorded in favour of one candidate have been been recorded in favour of one candidate have been identified as critical polling station.identified as critical polling station.

5.5. Repoll during the previous election: The polling stations Repoll during the previous election: The polling stations that went for repoll during the previous election due to that went for repoll during the previous election due to reported electoral malpractices; the polling stations that reported electoral malpractices; the polling stations that witnessed any sort of electoral violence have also been witnessed any sort of electoral violence have also been identified.identified.

6.6. Observation by the Observer / DEO / SP: - Inputs from Observation by the Observer / DEO / SP: - Inputs from the Observers, DEO & SP have also been considered.the Observers, DEO & SP have also been considered.District Election Department, Howrah, West Bengal

Sharing Best Electoral Practices adopted in the Last General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2009

• Total Marks assigned to each Polling Station :- 100Total Marks assigned to each Polling Station :- 100

• Division of MarksDivision of Marks– Non EPIC Voters (% against total Voters) Non EPIC Voters (% against total Voters) ::

5 5– Missing Voter without family LinkageMissing Voter without family Linkage ::

5 5– Vulnerability MappingVulnerability Mapping : :

2525– Repoll (Nil)Repoll (Nil) :: 0 0– % of Poll Recorded in past Elections% of Poll Recorded in past Elections

:: 1010– % of Poll Recorded in favour of one candidate % of Poll Recorded in favour of one candidate

in past Electionsin past Elections ::1010

– Special Marking (by Observer / DEO / SP)Special Marking (by Observer / DEO / SP) ::4545

Process adopted -Process adopted -


• Microsoft Access database has been used to store data in Microsoft Access database has been used to store data in the backend. Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 has been used as the backend. Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 has been used as front end interface. For reports Seagate Crystal Report front end interface. For reports Seagate Crystal Report 8.0 has been used.8.0 has been used.

• Basic Requirements to run this softwareBasic Requirements to run this software– Computer (Pentium IV or higher)Computer (Pentium IV or higher)– Operating System (Windows 98 or higher)Operating System (Windows 98 or higher)

Application of Software - SensorialApplication of Software - Sensorial

Let’s see how it works


An application to facilitate the installation process has been An application to facilitate the installation process has been developed. Upon inserting the autorun Installation CD into developed. Upon inserting the autorun Installation CD into CD-ROM, the following screen appears: CD-ROM, the following screen appears:

Installation -

User Information: - The super user for this application is ADMIN and password is GUEST. Upon clicking the User Information button another form will appear to create new users.

• Install CAS Software

• Create DSN

• Configure DSN

• User Information


Once the installation is complete, now run the software from :-Once the installation is complete, now run the software from :-Start Menu -> Programs -> Criticality Analysis Software -> Criticality Analysis Start Menu -> Programs -> Criticality Analysis Software -> Criticality Analysis

Software. Software.

A window will appear as follows:-A window will appear as follows:-

Application -


District Election Department, Howrah, West BengalSharing Best Electoral Practices in the Last General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2009

The Menus:- The Menus:- • File Menu File Menu

– Log OffLog Off– ExitExit

• MastersMasters– Category SettingCategory Setting

• TransactionTransaction– Administrative MarksAdministrative Marks– Calculate MarksCalculate Marks– Calculate Total MarksCalculate Total Marks

• ReportsReports– AC wise CriticalityAC wise Criticality– AC wise Criticality DetailsAC wise Criticality Details– AC Part wise Critical ListAC Part wise Critical List– Mark DetailsMark Details– StatisticsStatistics

• UtilityUtility– Change PasswordChange Password

• QuitQuit

Application -


Application : Masters -> Category Setting

The categories are selected from the combo box at the top. Then both the minimum and maximum value in a range are supplied along with the mark for that particular range. For example, for Non-EPIC, the percentage of such electors in the range 0 to 3 may be given mark 0 and for the range 3 to 5 mark may be 2 and for the rest i.e. 5 to 100 may be 3. The number of ranges may be as desired.


Criteria –1 (Out of 5)Non EPIC Voters (% against total Voters)

Sl.NoSl.No Minimum ValueMinimum Value Maximum ValueMaximum Value MarksMarks

11 00 33 00

22 33 55 22

55 55 >5>5 33

Criteria – 2 (Out of 5)Missing Voter without family linkage (% against total Voters)


11 00 33 00

22 33 55 22

55 55 >5>5 33



Criteria –3 (Out of 25)Vulnerability Mapping

Criteria – 4 (Out of 10)% of Poll Recorded in past Elections

Sl.NoSl.No Minimum Value (No of Minimum Value (No of Hamlets)Hamlets)

Maximum Value (No of Maximum Value (No of Hamlets)Hamlets)

MarksMarks

11 11 >1>1 2525


11 75%75% 85%85% 44

22 85%85% 90%90% 66

33 90%90% 100%100% 1010



Criteria –5 (Out of 10)% of Poll Recorded in favour of one candidate in past Elections

Criteria – 6 (Out of 45)Special Marking: This is incorporated with the idea that if any of the booth is

Vulnerable according to the Observer or the D.M & D.E.O. or the S.P.


11 75%75% 85%85% 44

22 85%85% 90%90% 66

33 90%90% 100%100% 1010


11



This is for providing administrative marks as per perception of the Observer, D.M & D.E.O., and S.P.

Application : Transaction -> Administrative Marks


Application : Calculate Total Marks

This for is used for calculating marks for each criteria as per specified ranges supplied earlier in the Category Setting form.

This for is used for calculating the total marks of a Polling Station.


Application : Generation of Reports

AC wise Criticality


AC wise details of Criticality

Application : Generation of Reports


Conclusion :

District Election Department, Howrah, West Bengal

We had evolved this exercise and applied the software effectively for objectively identifying the critical Polling Stations (PS). The software enabled us to easily handle & prioritize the thousands of PS, even after application of several criteria / parameters set by Observers / DEO / SP.

The application has proved to be very successful both technically and practically during the General Elections to the House of People – 2009 in respect of Howrah District. The most interesting and significant part of the project was the calculation of marks on dynamic ranges and generation of various reports as asked by the Observers and the authority concerned.

Sharing Best Electoral Practices adopted in the Last General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2009

Thank YouThank You

Documents

Sensorial - a Software for identification of Critical Polling Stations District Election Department, Howrah, West Bengal Sharing Best Electoral Practices