HARIPUR, April 27: The Election Commission has finalized preparations for holding the referendum on April 30.

According to sources, the district office of the EC has approved 657 polling stations with 775 polling booths. Over 2,200 government employees, mainly from the education departments, have been engaged for conducting the referendum.

Some 396,000 voters of Haripur can use their right of franchise.

According to sources at the Haripur assistant election commissioner’s office, the number of polling stations has been enhanced from 385 to 657 to ensure maximum turnout.

The sources said there was no plan for placing ballot boxes in the jail or hospitals but three government schools close to the railway station and two adjacent to the jail were declared polling stations.