Maharashtra – Over 97,000 polling stations in state

Mumbai, April 2: For the upcoming general Lok Sabha election, more than two thousand new polling stations have been added in the state. This has now taken the figure to 97 thousand 640 centers.

In Nashik 274 new polling booths had been added. In Pune- 237 were increased whereas 227 polling stations have been added in Thane. Interesting, not a single has been increased in Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency. Generally, there is one polling station behind one thousand four hundred voters. Since last few days, the registration for new voters has been given an extension and it is seen that the number of voters in the state is increasing. Hence the number of polling stations have also being added.

For the Loksabha elections this year, the plan was to established 95 thousand 473 polling stations but due to the proportion of the increase number of new voters two thousand 167 polling stations has been added, statewide. This takes the toll to 97 thousand 640. The number of polling stations for the Loksabha elections in the year 2004 were 64 thousand 508 where as in the year 2009 the figure rose to 83 thousand 986 boots. In 2014, the number of polling booths increased to 91 thousand 329. In the present upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it is 97 thousand 640.

The decision for increasing the number of polling station, criteria for adding new stations, designing the polling booths, deciding the minimum and maximum number of voters, publishing the list of voters at various centers, deciding the sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations, making available facilities at polling stations is taken by the Election commission of India. Based on the sensitivity of the polling station, the necessary security is been provided. According to the Central Election Commission every polling booth should have at least 15 types of infrastructure facilities and this has been made mandatory. More care is been taken for the centre in remote areas.