All important dates of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa elections

The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the dates and phases of assembly elections across five crucial states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa.

The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases between February 11 and March 8, while Punjab and Goa will go to polls together on February 4, Uttarakhand on February 15 and Manipur in two phases on March 4 and 8.

The counting for all five states will be held on March 11.

While announcing the poll schedule for five states, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said the seven-phased UP Assembly polls for 403 constituencies will be held on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8.

Over 16 crore people will participate in these polls for a total of 690 constituencies in five states. The Commission has set up 1.85 lakh polling stations for the elections, 15 percent more than those set up in 2012 polls.

The CEC announced that the poll process will commence with the issue of notification on January 11 for Punjab and Goa polls where candidates can start filing their nominations.

The CEC, in the presence of the two Election Commissioners A K Joti and O P Rawat, also claimed to have eliminated millions of errors and removed multiple entries from the electoral rolls.

“The Model Code of Conduct will come into immediate effect and will apply on political parties and state governments concerned, besides the Central government in terms of announcements in these states,” Zaidi told reporters.

The CEC said candidates will have to open a fresh bank account for all election expenses and all expenses above Rs 20,000 will be made through cheques from their respective accounts. He added that all donations will also be accepted through cheques.

The maximum limit for expenses for each candidates in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand is Rs 28 lakh, while that in Goa and Manipur is Rs 20 lakh, he said.

Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs) will be used in all states and to ensure secrecy, the height of the voting compartment has been raised to 30 inches.

The Election Commission will distribute photo voters slip to all voters. A new standard operating procedure has been announced to tackle any malpractices reported in the 72 hours before the election.

Important Dates:

Uttar Pradesh

PHASE 1 (73 Constituencies):
Notification – January 17, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 24, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 25, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 27, 2017
Election date – February 11, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 2 (67 Constituencies):
Notification – January 20, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 27, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 30, 2017
Election date – February 15, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 3 (69 Constituencies):
Notification – January 24, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 31, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 02, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 04, 2017
Election date – February 19, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 4 (53 Constituencies):
Notification – January 30, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 06, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 07, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 09, 2017
Election date – February 23, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 5 (52 Constituencies):
Notification – February 02, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 09, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 11, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 13, 2017
Election date – February 27, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 6 (49 Constituencies):
Notification – February 08, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 15, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 16, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 18, 2017
Election date – March 04, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 7 (40 Constituencies):
Notification – February 11, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 20, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 22, 2017
Election date – March 08, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

Goa

Notification – January 11, 2017
Number of Constituencies – 40
Last date of nominations – January 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 19, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 21, 2017
Election date – February 04, 2017 (single phase)
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

Punjab

Notification – January 11, 2017
Number of Constituencies – 117
Last date of nominations – January 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 19, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 21, 2017
Election date – February 04, 2017 (single phase)
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

Uttarakhand

Notification – January 20, 2017
Last date of nominations – January 27, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – January 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – January 30, 2017
Election date – February 15, 2017 (single phase)
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

Manipur

PHASE 1:
Notification – February 08, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 15, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 16, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – February 18, 2017
Election date – March 04, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017

PHASE 2:
Notification – February 11, 2017
Last date of nominations – February 18, 2017
Scrutiny of nominations – February 28, 2017
Last date for withdrawal of nominations – March 02, 2017
Election date – March 08, 2017
Counting of votes – March 11, 2017