The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday urged Mumbaikars not to carry mobile phones to polling stations on the day of voting on January 15. For a smooth polling process, the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-civic-body-sets-up-2600-polling-locations-to-ease-congestion-23611696" rel="nofollow">BMC</a> added that anyone carrying a mobile phone must keep it switched off.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, speaking at a press conference on Monday, said, "We have not received any express directives from the State Election Commission regarding carrying mobile phones to polling stations. In light of this, the BMC&rsquo;s advisory to citizens is: &lsquo;Do not carry your phones.&rsquo; If it is carried, it must be kept in switch-off mode."
<h2 class="pf0">BMC receives printing auxiliary display units as backups</h2>
As part of the upgraded voting system for the upcoming <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-advanced-display-units-padu-to-act-as-backup-during-vote-counting-for-the-upcoming-civic-polls-in-mumbai-23611690" rel="nofollow">BMC Election 2026</a>, the civic body has received 140 PADU (printing auxiliary display unit) machines for the first time. These machines will serve as a backup in case of any technical issues during the vote-counting process.
Their introduction is intended to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted procedure in the event of technical errors. These units can print election results directly from the electronic voting machine (EVM) control unit.
In a statement on Monday, BMC said, "M3A voting machines from M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, will be used for the BMC General Elections. During vote counting, the ballot unit must be connected to the control unit."
Speaking on the machines, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, "These PADU units are acting as a backup. In case of any emergency situation or technical error in connecting the voting units to the control unit, PADU will be used as a backup unit. These have been developed by M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, and given to BMC. We have received 140 such units."
A senior official of BMC's Election Department further explained, "<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-raj-thackeray-alleges-adani-group-expanded-rapidly-under-bjp-rule-23611672" rel="nofollow">EVM </a>has two components: voting units and control units. The voting unit needs to be connected to the control unit at the time of vote counting. In case the ballot unit and control unit jointly fail, PADU can be connected to the voting unit as a backup."

BMC has advised voters not to carry mobile phones to polling stations on January 15 during the BMC election 2026, saying devices must be switched off

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In view of conducting a smooth process for the BMC election 2026, BMC further said that in case anyone carries a mobile phone, it must be kept in switch-off mode.

BMC urges Mumbai's voters not to carry mobile phones to polling stations on January 15

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