The Vadodara district administration completed final preparations on Saturday for the local self-government elections scheduled for Sunday. Large-scale distribution of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and election materials was carried out across the district.
Polling Arrangements
Authorities confirmed that all logistical, administrative, and security arrangements are in place to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling. Voting will be held for the Vadodara district panchayat, seven taluka panchayats (Padra, Karjan, Shinor, Savli, Desar, Vadodara, and Waghodia), four municipalities (Dabhoi, Padra, Savli, and Waghodia), and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Counting of votes is scheduled for April 28.
EVM Dispatch and Security
On Saturday, EVMs and polling materials were dispatched from 18 designated dispatch and receiving centers. Polling parties left for their respective booths in GPS-enabled vehicles under tight police security. Zonal officers, micro-observers, and security personnel maintained vigil. Overall, EVM allocation and dispatch were carried out from 34 locations, including six in urban areas, four at the municipal level, and 24 at the district and taluka levels. All ballot units, control units, and statutory documents were verified before being handed over to presiding and polling officers, following State Election Commission guidelines.
Voter and Polling Station Details
The district has set up 2,406 polling stations for 21,95,738 registered voters, comprising 11,16,473 men, 10,79,384 women, and 111 others. Voting will be conducted using EVMs, with 5,442 ballot units and 4,290 control units deployed. In constituencies with more than 14 candidates, including some in the municipal corporation and Dabhoi municipality, two ballot units will be used.
A total of 13,234 polling personnel and 7,939 police personnel have been deployed. As many as 547 vehicles, including buses, mini-buses, taxis, and jeeps, have been arranged for transportation. A district-level control room has been set up for polling and counting days.
Postal Ballots and Candidate Details
Officials reported that 5,623 postal ballots were issued to election staff, including 2,652 police personnel, and voting through this mode has been completed. According to official data, 1,080 nomination forms were filed, of which 440 were rejected and 94 candidates withdrew. Elections will now be held for 346 seats, with 46 seats declared uncontested and 940 candidates remaining in the fray.
Law and Order Measures
To maintain law and order, police collected 1,827 weapons in urban areas and 658 in rural regions. Permissions for campaign-related activities, including public meetings, rallies, offices, and vehicle use, were also regulated.
