EC bans mobile phones in polling stations, vicinity

Chennai, May 2 (UNI) The Election Commission has banned use of mobile phones inside the polling stations and in their neighbourhood in the May eight Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said in a press release here, the Commission had directed that no person would be allowed either to carry or use cellular phones, cordless phones or wireless sets in a 100 m distance from the polling stations.

Similarly, no person, except officers on the election duty would be allowed to carry or use such gadgets in the area within and around counting centres, he said.

If any person was found using such gadgets within the polling stations or its vicinity, the instrument would be seized by officers on special duty, Mr Gupta warned.

He said to ensure that bogus votes were not cast by impersonators, the EC had prescribed 13 types of alternative identification documents, besides the Electors Photo Identity Card, to identify a voter.

Instructions were being issued to Presiding Officers not to let off impersonators with a mere verbal warning. They should be handed over to police with a formal complaint to enable prosecution.

Instead of a dot, indelible ink would be applied from the upper tip of the nail to the bottom of the first joint of the forefinger of left hand, as a line, Mr Gupta said.

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