Pune Vidhan Sabha Polls 2024: Election Commission Introduces Token System To Ease Voting Experience In Select AreasÂ
Pune Vidhan Sabha Polls 2024: Election Commission Introduces Token System To Ease Voting Experience In Select Areas
In a bid to eliminate long queues on polling day, the Election Commission has decided to introduce a token-based system in select areas for the upcoming elections on November 20. This innovative approach allows voters to wait in designated seating areas instead of standing in lines, making the voting experience more comfortable and convenient.
Voters will receive tokens and wait in adjacent rooms or sheds until their number is called. The token system will operate throughout voting hours, and election officials in each district can decide whether to implement the system based on queue lengths. This system will be implemented in both urban and rural constituencies, with specific polling stations identified by DEOs.
The Election Commission of India has also mandated that all districts maintain minimum facilities such as waiting rooms, water, and ramps at all polling stations. To ensure efficient queue management, three separate queues will be designated for men, women, and senior citizens, with priority given to people with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, and women with small children.
Citizens have welcomed this move, citing its benefits for urban and rural areas. “They should make voters comfortable, and providing these tokens would help.” This system aims to reduce wait times, increase voter comfort, and streamline the voting process.
With 9.7 crore voters and over 1 lakh polling booths, the state has added 240 polling stations to ensure no more than 1,500 voters are attached to each booth. This token system, successfully implemented in previous elections, will accommodate voters arriving close to the 6 pm deadline.
