Imphal, Feb 15: Ahead of the February 28 and March 5 Assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday launched a signature campaign to promote ethical voting.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, Naorem Praveen Singh, launching the signature campaign under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) said that the campaign has been launched with an aim to promote ethical voting for the forthcoming elections to the 12th Manipur Assembly.

He said the theme of the campaign is “Yes, I will vote to the Right Candidate”.

The official stressed that such campaign would imbibe the voters with a mindset of choosing a right candidate, who would work with a commitment for the welfare of the people and development of the state.

The campaign would also play a crucial role in spreading the message on the importance of ethical and inducement free voting to young voters across the state, he added.

The signature campaign, which was organised by Manipur Innovation Society, was held at different areas of Imphal city near Kangla, Nupi Keithel and Assembly Road and Thangmeiband on Tuesday.

The campaign would also reach out to other areas of the poll bound state before the elections.

All-women managed polling stations

In an important step, 16.4 percent all-women managed polling stations of the total of 2,968 polling stations would be set up in Manipur and in five assembly constituencies. Singjamei, Thoubal, Yaiskul, Wangkhei, Churachandpur polling stations would be managed exclusively by the women polling personnel.

The election officials said that 487 all-women managed polling stations would be set up in Manipur and women security personnel would be deployed in many of these stations.

The officials said that the initiative was taken up to provide a comfortable experience to women voters and better participation of women in the election process.