Ensuring accessibility to the voting process is paramount in a democracy, and in a significant move towards inclusivity, the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, Shrikant Deshpande, has directed all district collectors, with a particular focus on Pune, to identify clusters of housing societies and high-rise buildings as potential locations for setting up polling stations within their common facilities. This initiative aims to encourage higher voter turnout and overcome urban voters’ apathy toward participating in elections.
Collectors from Pune, Mumbai Suburban, Mumbai City, Palghar, and Thane have received specific instructions to identify such clusters and establish polling stations before October 6, in collaboration with their respective office-bearers and state housing federations.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated this directive in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections early next year, and it has communicated with all chief electoral officers (CEOs) across the country to locate suitable polling stations within these clusters.
Having polling stations in close proximity to housing societies is expected to address the issue of urban voters’ reluctance to exercise their right to vote. Collectors have been advised to assess the total number of polling stations required within these housing societies. If any polling station is found to be in close proximity to a society and can be relocated for improved accessibility, collectors are encouraged to facilitate this change after thorough discussion. The list of polling stations, post-rationalization, will be made publicly available to solicit suggestions or objections from the public.
To ensure transparency in the process, collectors have been instructed to engage in proper consultation with recognized and registered political parties and their officials at the district level.
Currently, the state of Maharashtra has 96,866 polling stations, with an additional 2,000 expected to be added to the list after the rationalization exercise. Last year, 1,015 polling stations were added through this process.
The move to establish polling stations within housing societies has received positive support from various quarters, including the Maharashtra State Housing Federation. Suhas Patwardhan, the vice-chairman of the federation, expressed their readiness to assist election officials in reaching out to housing societies interested in hosting polling stations.
The convenience and accessibility of polling stations within housing societies have already yielded positive results, as demonstrated by Shridhar Chavan, a member of a Kondhwa housing society in Pune. He noted that in the last Lok Sabha polls, their entire society voted with enthusiasm due to the polling booth’s presence in the society’s clubhouse. Senior citizens also actively participated in the process. This success story reflects the potential impact of such initiatives in future elections.
As per the revised schedule, the publication of draft rolls will take place on October 27, with claims or objections to the voters’ list invited from October 27 to December 9.
