No mobile phones within 100 metres of polling stations, the 11 IDs you can use, do you need to carry a booth slip and more; all your doubts answered
Voting day is here, but not all of us remember how exactly to go about it. Don't worry, mid-day's refresher has it all covered. Among the most important things to remember is to not forget to carry any one of the 11 accepted identity proof documents (see: Valid proof of identity) and to not use your mobile phone in and around the polling booth. Voting begins at 7 am sharp and will last until 6 pm.
While some of us may have got the voting slips, those who haven't got theirs need not panic. All you need to do is go up to one of the helpdesks set up at street corners and look for your name. If your name is on the list, the corresponding voting booth number and other details will be mentioned there. You can also look for your name online before leaving the house on https://electoralsearch.in. If your name is not on this list, you cannot vote. No argument. Do remember to register yourself on https://www.nvsp.in before the assembly elections.
ADVERTISEMENT
Police officers being briefed about bandobast duty a day before voting day in the city. Pic/Sameer Marakande
No mobile phones
Mobile phones cannot be used within 100 metres of the polling booth, but for the working population of the city, who either votes on its way to or from work, you may carry your phone with you but must remember to either switch it off or keep it on silent mode. Cars and bikes, too, will have to be parked 100 metres away from polling booths. Only designated vehicles carrying people with disabilities will be allowed close to polling booths.
Only 11 valid ID documents
Please remember that the voter slip is not proof of identity. You have to also carry any one of the 11 identity cards. If you have none of them, once again, you cannot vote.
Please do not argue with the election duty staff, they have no role to play in this.
Shivaji Jondhale, Mumbai City Collector, said, "If there is no name on the electoral list, then people cannot vote. It is very important to be a registered voter. Further, if there is no voting slip but your name is on the electoral list of the Election Commission and you have a valid ID card, then by checking with the help desk you can find out the polling station and can exercise your right to vote."
Wait for the beep
The confusion about the long press while registering your vote on the electronic voting machine was cleared by Collector officials. They said your vote is considered registered once the long beep is heard. Do keep your finger pressed on the button until you hear it or your vote will not be registered.
Live Blog: Elections 2019 Phase 4 Live Updates: Anil Ambani, Rekha cast their vote
Come out and vote!
The Election Commission has taken various measures to ensure citizens come out and vote. The total number of voters in the city, is 96.39 lakh. The EC and Collector offices of the city are aiming at a voting percentage of at least 61% this time from 41% in 2009 and 51% in 2014.
Citizens, too, have come forward to help increase voter turnout. An ALM from Juhu has organised a pick-up for senior citizens to the polling booths. The EC, too, has organised help for people with disabilities. Further, in order to ensure proper transport system during the voting process, the Collector offices have organised 2,985 vehicles in Mumbai suburban district and 1,769 vehicles in Mumbai Island City.
There is a staff of 15,000 working in the island city and over 60,000 in the suburbs on election duty. There are 2,601 polling stations in the island city which has two constituencies, and 7,472 polling stations in the suburbs that have four constituencies, said officials.
Also read: Elections 2019: Mumbai Police to deploy 40,000 cops on election duty; issue guidelines
Students, take that selfie!
This year, the EC and government officials have been explaining the electoral process to young students in the hope that it reaches their parents at home. One of the initiatives is the 'selfie' movement, where students have been urged to take their parents to polling booths and put up selfies on social media with their parents after voting.
96.39l
No. of voters in Mumbai
61
Voting percentage that the Election Commission is expecting in Mumbai
Also read: Elections 2019: 422 polling stations in Mumbai declared 'critical'
Valid proof of identity
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Identity card issued by the Election Commission/Central and state government/ Public Enterprises / Local Body Institutes
- Bank passbook with photograph
- PAN card from the Income Tax Department
- ID card given by the Census Commissioner
- Job Card under Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Health card from the labour ministry
- Pension passbook or pension payment order with photograph of the retired employee
- ID card of MLA/MP
- Aadhaar card, too, will be considered as identity proof
Also read: Elections 2019: Popular politicians and key battles in Mumbai
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
