Unofficial voter ID slips, mobile phone deposit facility | EC announces slew of measures for voters

The decision came as EC recognised the increasing coverage and usage of mobile phones in both urban and rural areas and the challenges faced not only by the voters at large but also by senior citizens, women, and disabled electors in managing mobile phones on the poll day.

New Delhi: Streamlining poll-day arrangements and enhancing voter convenience, the Election Commission on Friday allowed voters to carry mobile phones till the entrance of polling stations and parties and candidates to set up booths to distribute unofficial voter identification slips at 100 metres from the polling station entrance.

The EC said the decisions were taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in consultation with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The instructions are in line with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, it said.

With several voters earlier returning home without voting from polling stations due to lack of safe keeping of mobile phones, the EC said it has now decided to allow a mobile deposit facility just outside the polling stations.

The EC said the decision came as it recognised the increasing coverage and usage of mobile phones in both urban and rural areas and the challenges faced not only by the voters at large but also by senior citizens, women, and disabled electors in managing mobile phones on the poll day.

"Only mobile phones shall be allowed within 100 meters of the polling station and that too in switched-off mode. Very simple pigeonhole boxes or jute bags shall be provided near the entrance door of the polling station where the voters would be required to deposit their mobile phones. Mobile phones shall not be allowed to be carried inside the polling station by the voter," a statement said.

However, it said certain polling stations can be exempted from this provision based on adverse local circumstances by the Returning Officer. Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which ensures secrecy of voting within the polling station, will continue to be strictly enforced.

In a move aimed at improving election day facilitation, the EC said, it has rationalised the permissible norms for canvassing in line with the electoral laws to 100 meters from the entrance of the polling station.

However, electioneering shall not be allowed within a 100-meter radius around the polling Station on the day of poll. "Therefore, the booths set up by the candidates on poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors, in case the electors are not carrying their official Voter Information Slips (VIS) issued by the Commission, can now be set up just beyond 100 meters of any polling station," it added.