Mumbai Election 2024: New Facilities, Speedier Voting, And Special Helplines For Differently Abled Voters

Following reports of long queues and low voter turnout during the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced measures to improve the voting experience for citizens, according to a mid-day report. Speaking at a press conference at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Monday, Bhushan Gagrani, the Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer for Mumbai and its suburbs outlined the new initiatives designed to make voting more comfortable.

To ensure ease and convenience for voters, the BMC has set up waiting rooms, clean toilets, and drinking water stations at polling booths across the city. Gagrani added that volunteers would be on hand to assist voters. To speed up the process, a new system has been introduced that allows four voters to enter a polling booth at once, compared to the previous practice of only one voter entering at a time.

Facilities For Differently Abled Voters

In an effort to make voting more accessible for differently abled citizens, the BMC has set up additional support. A special helpline number, 1950, has been launched for differently-abled voters. Additionally, dedicated vehicles will pick up voters from 1,284 spots across the city and suburbs to transport them to polling centres. At the centres, facilities such as wheelchairs and ramps will be available, and volunteers will assist Divyang voters throughout the process.

"We've taken steps to address previous complaints regarding uneven ramps to ensure Divyang voters can cast their votes without difficulty," said Gagrani.

Security At Polling Centres

In line with security protocols, Gagrani confirmed that mobile phones will not be allowed within a 100-metre radius of polling centres, even if switched off. "We had discussions with the Election Commission regarding mobile phone use at voting centres, but due to legal concerns, mobile phones will remain banned," he explained.

For the upcoming election on November 20, approximately one lakh people, including 60,000 BMC employees and 25,696 police officers, will be assigned to election duty. Gagrani assured the public that essential services, including medical and fire brigade staff, would not be impacted by the election-related responsibilities.

These efforts aim to ensure a smoother and more secure election process for voters and officials alike.