From 35 to 117: Pune Expands Housing Society Polling Stations for Elections

Pune, 1st August 2024: In preparation for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase announced that approximately 117 polling stations will be established within cooperative housing societies, a significant increase from the 35 stations set up during the Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed states with upcoming assembly elections to locate polling stations in housing societies to address urban voter apathy. Pune district recorded the highest number of voters in the state during the Lok Sabha elections, with around 84 lakh registered voters. During those elections, 35 housing societies hosted polling booths.

Urban voter apathy remains a significant challenge, and placing polling booths within housing societies is intended to encourage more voters to participate in the assembly elections. “Voters won’t have to travel far to reach polling stations,” the official added.

Despite the ECI’s efforts to enhance voter turnout by setting up polling booths in housing societies, only about 30% of the societies in the district participated during the Lok Sabha elections, according to government data.

With over 4 lakh new voter registration applications received in the district, the election department plans to establish around 242 additional polling stations. Additionally, the locations of 460 polling stations will be relocated.

Collector Diwase has directed election officials to notify voters of the new polling station locations through booth-level officers. Changes have been proposed for 662 polling stations in the district ahead of the assembly elections. Election guidelines stipulate that each polling booth should serve no more than 1,500 voters; if this number is exceeded, an auxiliary polling station must be set up. Voters are encouraged to verify their registration and ensure their names are listed by August 16.