The state election authorities are anticipating that there will be need for setting up 218 auxiliary polling stations in different parts of the State in the forthcoming elections.
The 218 polling stations are over and above the 32,574 polling stations identified by the election authorities after rationalisation of the polling booths on the basis of the draft summary revision of electoral roll published on September 1. The number of voters, however, increased after the revised schedule for revision of voters’ lists between September 10 and 25 consequent on the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly on September 6.
The State election authority, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, is anticipating that the voters strength is likely to go up by close to three lakh by the expiry of November 9 deadline for submission of fresh applications seeking enrolment as voters as also the applications relating to re-inclusion of the names that were deleted during the summary revision.
Pink ballot papers
The election authorities issued orders to the respective district election officers to assess the requirement for new polling stations in line with the increase in the number of voters in their respective districts.
CEO Rajat Kumar has reportedly asked the Election Commission to enhance the limit of voters per booth in rural areas from the existing 1,200 to 1,400 keeping in view the increase in the number of electors. The election authority is understood to have referred the requests of opposition parties against use of pink colour ballot papers during the polling to the Election Commission and was awaiting a response.
The CEO’s office, according to senior officials, planned to take up randomisation of the electronic voting machines and voter verifiable paper audit trail machines from November 9. The election officials are also focussing on the polling process in the 38 constituencies which are spread over more than two districts. It was in principle resolved to use colour coding in ballot papers to ensure that there is no inconvenience to voters who come to the polling booths.
Efforts are also underway to address the concerns of the persons with disabilities. Though the election authority had assessed their number to be at 4.12 lakh, officials feel that the number could be more than 10 lakh as a majority of such electors would not specify their disability in the voter enrolment forms.
Senior officials said the election authority was yet to receive response from the ruling TRS over the complaints on using the Pragati Bhavan and Ministers’ Quarters for convening meeting that were political in nature.
The election authorities are also awaiting the response from AP Director General of Police R.P. Thakur about the presence of intelligence officials in Telangana.