The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued guidelines to set up and select polling booths for urban bodies general elections-2014. As per guidelines, a separate polling booth should be set up for the voters included in every part, number of electoral rolls. If a ward has not been divided in two parts due to less number of voters, then only one polling booth will be set up there. Polling booths set up for every ward should be within its geographical limits as far as possible.
Secretary SEC GP Gupta has directed district election officers to set up polling booths as far as possible in buildings of Central government offices, owned by municipalities/government undertakings, government schools or government-aided private schools and institutions.
As far as possible, no polling booth should be set up in any private building. But where it is impossible, private building should be acquired with landlord’s consent for short-term period.
It should be kept in view while acquiring private building that its owner or tenant should not be a candidate or his worker in Nagar Palika election and is not attached to any political party.
No polling booth should be set up in police station, hospital, temple or other important religious place. As far as possible, polling booths should be set up in the same buildings in wards where polling booths have been set up earlier for Vidhan Sabha/lok Sabha elections. Due to it, voters will not face any problem in locating the polling booth. But it should be ensured that these buildings’ physical condition is sound.
Not more than 4 polling booths should be set up in the same building to avoid overcrowding and maintain law & order. If it is necessary then an explanation should be given regarding its justification.
Polling booth should be set up in the concerning polling area itself. If no suitable building is available in the same polling area then polling booth can be set up in other nearest area. In case any suitable building becomes available in the concerning area then the polling booth in other area should be withdrawn with commission’s consent. Setting up temporary polling booths should be avoided.
There should not be office of a political party within 100 meter radius of polling booth. As far as possible, polling booths should be set up on the ground floor to prevent difficulties of old and disabled persons. Ramps should also be made available to ease entry of disabled voters.
Buildings for polling booths should be selected after physical verification so that situation does not arise to shift them after being set up. For selecting building, collector and district election officer SP/SDO Police should inspect the spot. Directives have also been given to select buildings for polling booths and send their lists to the commission at the earliest.