Ahead of the elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and by-elections in six states, the Election Commission of India has issued instructions to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of the States/Union Territories.
They have been directed to ensure that each of the 2,18,807 polling stations is equipped with assured minimum facilities (AMF) and voter assistance on the day of polling.
AMF includes drinking water, shaded waiting area, toilet with water facility, adequate lighting, ramp with suitable slope for physically handicapped voters, standard polling booth and proper signage.
Chief Executive Officers have also been directed to place benches at regular intervals in the queue so that voters can sit while waiting for their turn.
To increase awareness among voters, four uniform and standardized Voter Facilitation Posters (VFPs) will be prominently displayed at all polling stations, containing polling station details, list of candidates, Dos and Don’ts, list of valid identity documents and information on voting process.
Voter Assistance Booths (VABs) will be set up at each polling station, manned by a team of Booth Level Officers (BLOs)/employees who will assist the voters in finding their polling booth number and serial number in the voter list of the respective booth. The VABs will be prominently marked and easily visible to voters as they approach the polling precinct.
As one of the many initiatives taken by the ECI for the convenience of voters, mobile phone submission facility will be provided for voters outside the polling booth entrance.
Voters can hand over their phone (switched off) to a designated volunteer before entering the polling booth and retrieve it after casting their vote.
The Commission reiterates that provision of AMF (Public Transport Facility) and related accessibility measures is mandatory and strict compliance with the same will be ensured at all polling stations. All field staff have been instructed to complete the necessary tasks well in advance of the polling dates so that all voters can have a smooth and pleasant voting experience.
