Election Commission Evaluates 78 High-Rises for Polling Stations in Bengal
The Election Commission of India has officially received a comprehensive list detailing 78 high-rise buildings across West Bengal, submitted by the state's Chief Electoral Officer's office. This list is under active consideration for the establishment of specialized polling booths during the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Rationalization Process Underway
A senior EC official confirmed on Wednesday that the commission is meticulously reviewing the submitted list as part of its ongoing rationalization of polling stations. "While rationalizing polling stations, the commission will carefully evaluate the list of 78 high-rises and make definitive decisions regarding optimal booth locations," the official stated.
The District Election Officers from seven key Bengal districts, including both Kolkata North and Kolkata South, compiled and forwarded information on these residential complexes to the EC through the CEO office over a month ago. Each identified complex reportedly houses a substantial voter base, with a minimum of 300 to 500 registered electors.
Potential Changes in Booth Numbers
Following the selection of appropriate housing complexes, the Election Commission will initiate the process by sending formal proposals through the District Election Officers to establish polling booths at these locations. Currently, West Bengal operates with a total of 80,681 polling booths.
Previously, the EC had indicated that this number might increase by approximately 14,000 booths. However, another commission official noted that the evolving electoral landscape could alter this projection. "The changing situation might prevent such a significant increase from materializing," the official explained.
This potential adjustment follows the substantial deletion of 58 lakh voter names from the draft Summary Revision roll. These deletions encompassed absent, shifted, deceased, and duplicate entries. "If this trend is reflected in the final electoral list as well, the total number of required booths could experience a notable decrease," the official added.
Standard Booth Allocation Formula
The Election Commission typically establishes one polling booth for every 800 to 1,000 registered voters. Applying this standard arithmetic to the current voter data suggests that the number of booths could potentially decrease by around 5,800 units across the state.
Micro-Observer Appointments Progress
In a related development, the Chief Electoral Officer's office has successfully obtained details for the majority of the 8,505 state government Group-B officers designated for election duties. The office is currently engaged in the systematic process of issuing official appointment letters to these officers, who will serve as micro-observers during the electoral process.
This action aligns with the Supreme Court's directive issued on Monday, which explicitly instructed the state government: "Let the state ensure that all 8,505 Group B officers/officials, whose list was handed over to the court, report to District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers without delay."
The comprehensive approach to polling station rationalization, combined with rigorous voter list purification and strategic deployment of election personnel, underscores the Election Commission's commitment to conducting efficient, accessible, and transparent Assembly elections in West Bengal.
