Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 | Voter-friendly measures in place for smooth polling on Feb 5, says Chief Electoral Officer

New Delhi: Around 1.56 crore voters are set to exercise their electoral franchise in the Delhi Assembly election on February 5 as voter-friendly measures have been put in place for the smooth polling process, Chief Electoral Officer R. Alice Vaz said.

To facilitate voting, 13,766 polling stations have been set up across 2,969 polling premises. Of these, 733 polling stations are designated for persons with disabilities, Vaz said.

Around 1.56 crore voters, including 83.76 lakh men, 72.36 lakh women, and 1,267 individuals from the third gender will cast their ballot on February 5.

The Delhi Election Office has introduced several voter-friendly measures to ensure a smooth polling process. These include ramps, wheelchairs, medical teams, crèche services, themed polling stations, a queue management mobile application and a home voting option for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, she said.

Vaz emphasised that over 1 lakh polling personnel have been deployed, and all polling stations will have essential amenities under the Assured Minimum Facility (AMF) policy. These include waiting areas, drinking water, toilets, ramps, and wheelchairs. Paramedical staff with basic medical kits will also be stationed at polling centres.

To enhance voter experience, 210 polling stations will be set up as Theme-Based Model Polling Stations with additional facilities, she said.

Moreover, 70 polling stations -- one in each assembly constituency -- will be fully managed by women staff. Another 70 polling stations will be operated entirely by persons with disabilities to promote inclusivity and an equal number of youth-centric polling stations will be set up to encourage young voters, the CEO said.

The "Vote From Home" initiative will allow 6,488 senior citizens aged 85 and above, along with 1,051 persons with disabilities, to cast their votes from home, ensuring accessibility for all eligible voters, she stated.

"To help voters locate their polling stations, a colour-coded system will be used, with details mentioned on the Voter Information Slip. Additionally, 4,217 wheelchairs will be made available for easy mobility," said Vaz.

Addressing Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, Vaz stated that the cVIGIL app has received 5,244 complaints, with the highest number from North District (1,049) and the lowest from Shahdara (136). Authorities have maintained an average response time of 35 minutes.

For the first time in India, a Queue Management System (QMS) application and webpage will enable voters to check real-time crowd levels at polling centres, helping them plan their visit. The app, Delhi Election – 2025 QMS, is available on the Google Play Store, she mentioned.

"We are also arranging Dummy/Braille ballot paper, Braille EPIC cards, Braille VAG. 120 nos of SLI are also deployed," Vaz said.

She further shared that to ensure security during polling, 220 companies of forces, 19,000 home guards, and 35,626 Delhi Police personnel will be deployed. Additionally, 21,584 Ballot Units, 20,692 Control Units, and 18,943 VVPATs have been prepared including Dummy/Braille ballot paper, she said.

For voter assistance, 8,715 trained volunteers will be deployed. A pick-and-drop facility can be accessed via the 1950 helpline, mobile app, or Saksham ECI App. Special provisions include Braille ballot papers, EPIC cards, and 120 Sign Language Interpreters, Vaz said.

Vote counting will take place at 19 centres across 11 districts, as approved by the ECI. So far, 6,633 postal ballots have been cast through home voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, while 13,958 ballots have been cast by election duty voters, she added.

The Delhi Assembly election is scheduled for February 5, and the results will be announced on February 8.

Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The first of two state assembly polls this year sees a three-way contest between AAP, Congress, and BJP in the nation's capital. AAP decided to contest the polls alone, causing rumours of a rift in I.N.D.I.A. BJP, meanwhile, is hoping the liquor excise policy scam and pollution in Delhi will give the saffron party an edge over AAP. Kejriwal, on the other hand, has different plans with his demand for reservations for Delhi Jats. Congress will also be looking to make its presence felt and has not held back from attacking its own alliance partner. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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