India’s General Election to Stretch over 44 Days

India’s General Election to Stretch over 44 Days

　　India will begin the world's largest general election next month.

　　The process is expected to stretch over 44 days before results are announced on June 4. Nearly 970 million Indians – more than 10 percent of the world population – will be eligible¹ to take part.

　　The voting process will choose 543 lawmakers to India's lower house of Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term in office. He will face off against an alliance of opposition² parties struggling to unseat him. Most public opinion studies predict Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party will win.

　　Here are some of the main facts to know about the election.

　　Why will the election take so long?

　　There are two main reasons the election will stretch on so long. One is that India is the world's most populous³ country. The other reason, experts say, is because it will be a huge logistical effort to make sure that every registered voter can take part in the process.

　　The voting process will take place over seven parts, or stages. The country's 28 states and eight federal territories will vote at different times. Each stage will last one day, with the first held on April 19 and the last held on June 1.

　　Voters in some states will cast their ballots⁴ over a day, while in other places it may take longer. Uttar Pradesh, the largest state with 200 million people, will vote over a period of seven days, for example.

　　During the election, voting stations will be set up in remote places. This will include a wildlife refuge in southern Kerala state and another in a shipping⁵ container in western Gujarat state.

　　How is security a concern?

　　Experts say one main reason for the multi-stage election is to improve security.

　　Tens of thousands of federal security forces will be deployed⁶ during the voting. The guards, including those who usually guard borders, will be sent along with state police to prevent violence and to transport electoral officials and voting machines.

　　Deadly clashes involving supporters of competing political parties harmed past elections. But such violence has eased over the years, thanks to heavy security.

　　The Indian government's elections chief, Rajiv Kumar, said recently, "Look at the geography of the country ... there are rivers, mountains, snow, jungles ... think of the security forces' movements. They will have to travel through the length and breadth of the country."

　　Kumar added, "We will walk the extra mile so voters don't have to."

　　Words in This Story

　　eligible – adj. able to take part in something

　　logistics – n. the practical arrangements for something

　　remote – adj. extremely isolated

　　walk the extra mile – (phr) going above and beyond what is expected

1 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

4 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。