150 all-woman polling booths in Patna district

PATNA: At least 800 women polling officers will be deployed at 150 all-woman booths in the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Patna district – Patna Sahib and Pataliputra – which will go to the polls in the seventh and last phase on May 19.
The initiative, according to a district administration official, is aimed at encouraging women voters to exercise their franchise. Polling will be held at altogether 4,057 booths in the two constituencies. At 150 all-woman booths, even security aspect will be looked after by women personnel. Presiding and polling officers at these booths will also be women.
Deputy election officer of Patna R Nilay told this newspaper on Sunday that the move was initiated to implement the idea of Election Commission of India to maximise women’s participation in the polling process.
“This is for the first time in the state that women officers will manage 150 polling booths in one district. It has been observed that women voters prefer to exercise their franchise at all-woman booths,” Nilay added.
A senior district administration official said work to set up all-woman booths would start soon. “The first phase of training of women polling personnel has been completed and the second phase will start soon,” the official added.
There will also be five booths for specially-abled voters in the two constituencies. These booths will be managed by specially-abled government staff. There will also be one ‘all-woman with disability’ polling booth where presiding officer, polling officer and other officers will be specially-abled women.