34,784 voters to decide North-East Teachers’ Constituency election

The North-East Teachers’ Constituency election in Karnataka, scheduled for October 23, will be decided by 34,784 eligible voters. The Regional Commissioner and Returning Officer, Zehera Naseem, informed a press conference on October 11 that 13 candidates are competing for the single seat. The constituency spans seven districts: Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagara.

To ensure compliance with the model code of conduct, a variety of monitoring teams, including flying squads and video surveillance teams, have been established in each district. Sector officers have been appointed to oversee local law and order arrangements, and permissions for campaign vehicles will be issued by the Returning Officer’s office.

There is no prescribed expenditure limit for candidates, but offering money or other inducements to voters is prohibited. Free, fair, impartial, and transparent polling is expected, with micro-observers deployed at each counting table. Training for election personnel began on October 12 and will continue on October 17. Webcasting facilities will be provided at polling stations.

Of the registered voters, 20,040 are men and 14,744 are women, with the highest number residing in Kalaburagi district (10,652). A total of 144 polling stations will be set up, including 40 in Kalaburagi. Polling will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 23, and voters must present one of the 14 approved identity documents. The NOTA option will not be available.

Voters should follow the prescribed procedure carefully when marking their ballot papers, as omitting a preference number could invalidate subsequent preferences. Counting will take place at Bhaskar Hall in the Mathematics Department of Gulbarga University on October 27. A 24-hour helpline has been established to receive election-related complaints.