Know queue status at polling booths sitting in your home

Coimbatore: While the election commission and the district administration are doing everything under the sun to increase voter participation and expand voting opportunities for eligible voters, some people still hesitate to step out of their homes to exercise their franchise. They blame it on the unforgiving summer heat and the long queues in front of polling booths.
To encourage such people, the election commission is developing a software system, which will enable voters to know the status of the queue in front of a particular booth, sitting in their homes.

Officials at the district collectorate have hired a group of software engineers to develop a system for the purpose. “Under the system, either voters can SMS their booth number and get a reply about the number of people waiting at the booth. Or they can check it through an app, which they can download. Such a system will benefit senior citizens and those who are unwell. They can keep checking the status of the queue and come to the booth during the lean hours to cast their vote,” an official told TOI.

A similar system was used during the state assembly election in 2016. It was found effective in posh areas with educated voter base that had earlier recorded low voter turnout.

Meanwhile, inching closer to the election day, the election commission is conducting final training session for poll presiding officers and observers. The officials are also busy getting materials ready for the voting process in the 3,070 polling booths in the district.

Thondamuthur (158), Kinathukidavu (198), Pollachi (197 and 198) and Valparai (97) in Pollachi constituency and Sulur (173), Kavundampalayalam (397), Coimbatore North (157), Coimbatore South (70) and Singanallur (235) will be manned by women, an official said.

The Government Arts College, Nirmala College and North Coimbatore Corporation High School have been declared as model booths, which will be have marquees and fans for the comfort of voters. The booths will also be equipped with more lights, public addressing system, firefighting equipment, first aid kits and voter awareness materials.