Reduced Maximum Voting Locations to Host 1,200 Electorate Each
Election Commission of India Takes Proactive Measures to Improve Voting Experience
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is taking significant steps to improve the voting experience for all Indian citizens, with a focus on reducing long queues at polling stations and ensuring accurate voter turnout data.
One of the key initiatives is limiting the number of electors per polling booth to 1,200, following the successful implementation of this strategy in Bihar. This move is expected to significantly cut queues on polling day, as seen in preparations for upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
To ensure accurate voter turnout data, the ECI is conducting thorough revision and updating of electoral rolls. This process involves extensive verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who visit voters multiple times, allowing political parties to cross-check and raise claims for wrongful inclusions or exclusions.
Additional measures include the use of the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to empower voters who cannot come in person, special facilities for persons with disabilities (PwDs), and ordering additional Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot units.
The ECI is also addressing the long-standing issue of rationalizing polling booths, with polling booths now required to be within 2 km of the residence area of the voters. All party meetings at the level of Election Registration Officers (EROs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in states and Union territories will be conducted before March 31, 2025.
The Finance Minister of India will place a new Income Tax Bill in the Lower House on Monday. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, has emphasized the importance of ensuring that everyone is briefed about the laws properly so that they find the right forum for their grievances and get them resolved faster.
The CEC is also addressing the issue of duplicate numbers on Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and has ordered improvements in communication with political parties, with plans to take their suggestions by the end of April.
This initiative is part of proactive steps being taken by the new CEC to resolve several legacy issues with the EC. The CEC will hold a meeting with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the secretary legislative department of the ministry of law and justice on Tuesday to discuss the linking of EPIC with Aadhar as one step in this direction.
In summary, the ECI’s strategy combines meticulous electoral roll revision, limiting electors per booth, enabling postal ballots for select voters, and increasing election infrastructure to reduce queues and ensure precise turnout data in future elections. These measures are expected to improve the voting experience for all Indian citizens and increase the efficiency of the electoral process.
In light of the upcoming Assembly polls and to enhance the voting experience, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is implementing measures such as limiting the number of electors per polling booth and thorough revisions of electoral rolls to ensure accurate voter turnout data. This is part of a proactive policy-and-legislation approach aimed at resolving longstanding issues and boosting efficiency, as highlighted by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) during general-news discussions on politics and war-and-conflicts. The CEC is also working on solutions for issues like duplicate numbers on Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and linking EPIC with Aadhar as part of this strategy.
