Pune: Baramati Bypoll Voting Tomorrow; 478 EVMs Sent Straight to Polling Stations

Baramati, 22nd April 2026: Breaking from the long-standing practice of calling polling personnel to a central dispatch centre to collect EVM and VVPAT machines, election authorities on Tuesday sent the voting equipment directly to respective polling stations by vehicle ahead of the Baramati Assembly bypoll scheduled for April 23.

The revised distribution system was implemented from the Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation godown in MIDC Baramati, where polling material and staff arrangements were coordinated smoothly.

Officials said 478 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), 956 ballot units and 478 VVPAT machines meant for 478 polling stations were transported safely in 60 sealed mini tempos under the supervision of sector officers.

Tahsildar and Assistant Returning Officer Swapnil Rawade said that under the Election Commission’s updated guidelines, polling teams were instructed to report directly at their allotted polling centres instead of assembling at the dispatch centre as was done in previous elections.

Along with the machines, envelopes, forms and other required election material were also delivered directly to the polling stations.

To streamline operations, the entire constituency was divided into 60 zones, with one sector officer appointed for each zone. Each officer was assigned responsibility for around eight to ten polling stations.

Separate containers were arranged zone-wise to ensure secure handling and transportation of EVMs.

Authorities also arranged 30 buses for polling officials and employees who do not have personal vehicles, enabling them to travel to and from their assigned centres.

Voting for the Baramati bypoll will be held on Wednesday April 23 from 7 am to 6 pm. Returning Officer Uttam Dighe appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right.

Five theme-based special polling stations have been set up in the Baramati Assembly constituency to encourage higher voter turnout for the bypoll.

According to officials, Polling Station No. 121 at the Government Girls Hostel in MIDC has been developed as a “Pink Polling Station”. Polling Station No. 261 at Radheshyam Agrawal Junior College in Baramati has been designated as an “Ideal Polling Station”.

Polling Station No. 225 at the Zilla Parishad School in Pimpali has been set up as a “Youth Polling Station”, while Polling Station No. 258 at the Zilla Parishad School in Malegaon has been created as a “Divyang Polling Station” for persons with disabilities.

Polling Station No. 47 at the Zilla Parishad School in Dorlewadi has been developed as a “Unique Polling Station”.

Officials said all polling centres have been equipped with drinking water, toilets and shaded waiting areas for voters. Additional arrangements include rest areas for senior citizens, crèche facilities for women voters, and wheelchairs and ramps for persons with disabilities.