Pune District Adds 608 Polling Stations To Accommodate 11 Lakh New Voters Housing Societies Host Booths TooÂ
Pune District Adds 608 Polling Stations To Accommodate 11 Lakh New Voters Housing Societies Host Booths Too
In response to a substantial increase in voter registrations since the 2019 state assembly elections, Pune district has added 608 new polling stations for the 2024 assembly elections. This expansion comes as the number of voters in the district, including Pune city, has surged by over 11 lakh in the past five years, bringing the total electorate to 8,849,590.
The highest number of new polling stations has been introduced in the Bhosari constituency, which now has 81 additional stations. Hadapsar follows with 78 new polling stations. The overall tally for the district stands at 8,969 polling stations, up from 8,361 during the previous assembly elections.
Deputy district election officer Minal Kalaskar explained that the number of voters per polling station has been increased from 1,000 to 1,500 to manage crowding and reduce delays. Additional polling stations have also been established to accommodate the growing voter base.
Other constituencies witnessing significant additions include Chinchwad with 73 new polling stations, Shirur with 68, and Khadakwasla with 61. However, constituencies such as Junnar, Shivajinagar, Parvati, and Pune Cantonment have seen no changes in the number of polling stations.
This extensive increase in polling infrastructure reflects efforts by the election administration to ensure smooth and efficient voting for the growing electorate across the 21 assembly constituencies in the district.
Housing Societies Host Polling Booths :
Mahesh Pathak, Rajaveer Palace Society, Pimple Saudagar
“When election officials approached us to use our clubhouse as a polling booth, we were initially hesitant. However, when they explained that this initiative aimed to boost voter turnout, we decided to support the noble cause. Since it’s the first time our society is a polling center, we assumed it was only for our residents, around 300 voters. But after discussions, we learned it would serve the entire neighborhood, accommodating around 1,300 voters. The election officials and government authorities have been very supportive throughout the process. They took care of infrastructure needs, including setting up tents, ramps for differently-abled voters, security arrangements, and clear signage. On our part, we contributed by displaying updates on our digital notice boards, creating a selfie point, and helping distribute voter slips to as many people as possible with the election officer’s assistance. We are excited about this new experience. If the voter turnout improves this time, we will feel rewarded, knowing we played a small but meaningful role in making that happen.”
