Trichy and Madurai Districts Gear Up for Polling with Enhanced Security and Amenities
Trichy and Madurai districts are poised for polling on Thursday, with all booths fully equipped with essential amenities and robust security measures implemented to guarantee a seamless and peaceful voting process.
EVM Deployment and Security Arrangements
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were transported from taluk offices to polling stations on Wednesday under stringent security protocols, overseen by officials. In Madurai, EVMs have been dispatched to approximately 3,079 polling stations across the city for overnight setup. The deployment includes 3,695 ballot and control units, along with 4,001 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, supplemented by stationery, ink, registers, and t-shirts for election officials.
In Trichy, arrangements encompass 5,621 ballot units, 3,341 control units, and 3,619 VVPAT machines distributed throughout the district. Police personnel have been strategically deployed across urban and rural areas to uphold law and order, with additional support from home guards, paramilitary forces, CRPF, and CISF. Polling personnel have been assigned to all 2,787 booths in Trichy, where 21,47,051 voters are anticipated to cast ballots across nine constituencies: Manapparai, Srirangam, East, West, Thiruverumbur, Lalgudi, Mannachanallur, Musiri, and Thuraiyur.
Facilities and Accessibility Concerns
Madurai has ensured basic facilities at polling centers, including drinking water, washrooms, as well as ramps and wheelchairs to assist disabled voters. However, activists in Trichy have raised concerns about inadequate infrastructure for people with disabilities (PwDs). Kamaraj M, an activist, highlighted issues such as the absence of ramps or excessively steep ramps in rural areas like Navalpattu, and even in urban locations like Palakkarai (booths 130, 131), where proper facilities for the disabled are lacking.
Special Initiatives and Monitoring
In Madurai, pink polling booths exclusively for women voters have been established, staffed entirely by women. One women-only polling center has been set up for each of the 10 constituencies in Madurai, featuring play areas for children. Each polling center is equipped with cameras providing 360-degree supervision, continuously monitored by officials. Voters are required to submit phones and other electronic devices at designated spots before casting their votes.
The cVIGIL app has been launched to enable voters to report grievances or complaints related to the voting process or breaches in the model code of conduct. After voting concludes at 6 pm on Thursday, EVM machines will be returned to strong rooms in each zone and sealed. Selfie stations have been provided at polling centers to encourage voter participation among residents.
