<p>In a first, the Election Commission (EC) has sought to help voters in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh to find the nearest polling stations on internet, an official said Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Instead of locating the polling station here and there, just visit the commission's website and type your address or place you are interested to visit. Google Maps will automatically provide a list of nearby polling stations," additional state electoral officer P.L. Negi told IANS Monday.<br /><br />He said information about the direction of that particular polling station would also be provided.<br /><br />As many as 45.9 lakh voters will cast their ballots Nov 4 at 7,253 polling stations across the state.<br /><br />Polling information like election officials, number of voters and electoral rolls will also available online, he added.<br /><br />Election officials said the hill state is to become the country's first state to have this voter-friendly online facility.<br /><br />Earlier, the polling information was available only on manual maps.<br />"We had to rely on manual maps to identify the route of a particular polling station but now the information is available online. It's for everyone to use," officer on special duty (elections) Neeraj Sharma said.<br /><br />He said by next week, information about all polling booths will be available online.<br />There are many hamlets across Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts where voters have to trek more than 10 km to reach a polling station.<br /><br />Both districts, populated mainly by tribals, remain cut off from the rest of the state for more than six months in the year owing to heavy snowfall.<br /><br />India's highest altitude polling station is located at Hikkam in Lahaul and Spiti district. It's situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet.<br /><br />Himachal Pradesh will vote for a new 68-member assembly Nov 4 and the votes will be counted Dec 20</p>
<p>In a first, the Election Commission (EC) has sought to help voters in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh to find the nearest polling stations on internet, an official said Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Instead of locating the polling station here and there, just visit the commission's website and type your address or place you are interested to visit. Google Maps will automatically provide a list of nearby polling stations," additional state electoral officer P.L. Negi told IANS Monday.<br /><br />He said information about the direction of that particular polling station would also be provided.<br /><br />As many as 45.9 lakh voters will cast their ballots Nov 4 at 7,253 polling stations across the state.<br /><br />Polling information like election officials, number of voters and electoral rolls will also available online, he added.<br /><br />Election officials said the hill state is to become the country's first state to have this voter-friendly online facility.<br /><br />Earlier, the polling information was available only on manual maps.<br />"We had to rely on manual maps to identify the route of a particular polling station but now the information is available online. It's for everyone to use," officer on special duty (elections) Neeraj Sharma said.<br /><br />He said by next week, information about all polling booths will be available online.<br />There are many hamlets across Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts where voters have to trek more than 10 km to reach a polling station.<br /><br />Both districts, populated mainly by tribals, remain cut off from the rest of the state for more than six months in the year owing to heavy snowfall.<br /><br />India's highest altitude polling station is located at Hikkam in Lahaul and Spiti district. It's situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet.<br /><br />Himachal Pradesh will vote for a new 68-member assembly Nov 4 and the votes will be counted Dec 20</p>