16 January,2026 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
Polling station at Jari Mari Municipal School in Kalyan East. Pics/Aishwarya Iyer
Several voters in parts of Kalyan returned home without casting their ballots after failing to find their names on the voter lists. At multiple polling booths, residents were seen scanning printed lists pasted outside school gates. Many checked repeatedly, while others cross-verified details on their phones. Several carried screenshots from online voter portals confirming their eligibility, yet their names did not appear on the physical lists.
For many, this led to repeated movement between entrances, classrooms and help desks, seeking guidance. Some were asked to verify their names inside the ward, while others were told to recheck the lists outside. After spending considerable time, many left in frustration.
Election officials asserted, "If your name appears online but not on the list outside, you should still check inside the ward where the updated list is kept." However, this clarification didn't reach many on time. The confusion affected elderly and unwell voters the most. At some booths, wheelchairs were unavailable, forcing those with mobility issues to walk or abandon the attempt.
Pravin Wayal; (center) Sugunan Gopalan; (right) Sharada Sawant
At Jari Mari school, a 75-year-old man, walking with a stick and supported by his wife, had to climb stairs twice after being given an incorrect booth number. "It was a troublesome experience. Some help from these people or a wheelchair would have helped," he said. Some voters were seen turning back midway, visibly exhausted, while family members struggled to assist them. Others complained of poor guidance.
Sugunan Gopalan, 67, a paralysis patient, was offered a wheelchair. However, the ramp leading to the booth was broken, the wheelchair was in poor condition, and no staff were available to assist in pushing it. Accompanied by his nurse and daughter, Nayana, neither of whom could manoeuvre the heavy wheelchair over the damaged ramp, Gopalan was forced to walk to the booth using a stick and his daughter's support.
There were no clear signs explaining the dual-list system or the steps to follow if a name was missing. "We were just told to check again," said Priti Chindarkar, who eventually returned home without voting. "My husband and I reached early, but we kept running back and forth - first to get the slip, then to reconfirm our name. The app showed our name, but it wasn't in the booklet inside the polling station."
Notably, most voters did not argue. Instead, many left quietly, shaking their heads or muttering in resignation, disappointed that despite being registered, participation had become difficult. "It was pointless to come here early morning," said a voter before leaving the polling station. Polling officials were later seen explaining the updated voter lists to those still present, but for many in Kalyan, polling day ended without an inked finger - only confusion, fatigue and unanswered questions.
Amid the confusion, some voters arrived early with enthusiasm. Pravin Bikaji Wayal, 54, reached his polling station at 6.30 am, as he needed to leave for work after voting. "It's my style to come as early as possible. I even bring a notebook where I note down names so people can enter in an orderly queue, without any chaos," Wayal said.
He was seen assisting voters with their slips, guiding them to the correct booths and chatting easily with those waiting. Throughout the morning, he encouraged people to maintain discipline while entering the polling station. Sharada Sawant, 70, was the first voter in Kalyan East, having queued up since 6.30 am outside her polling station. Beaming with enthusiasm, she said, "I wish everybody wins! I'm just doing my duty to vote!"
