The Maharashtra meeting elections on Wednesday noticed important enhancements in polling station amenities, lowering wait occasions and enhancing the general voting expertise, particularly for senior residents and individuals with disabilities. In comparison with the Lok Sabha elections in Might, the place voters confronted lengthy queues and insufficient amenities, this time the method was notably smoother, with higher administration of queues and extra environment friendly polling setups throughout Mumbai.
The Election Fee (EC) had instructed polling authorities to make sure assured minimal amenities (AMF) in any respect voting centres, together with ramps, handrails, ingesting water, ready areas, and clear signage. In most centres throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, voters reported higher preparations, which contributed to a usually constructive expertise. Nevertheless, some voters did word points with the situation of ramps, the shortage of amenities to deposit cell phones, and in sure instances, insufficient entry for disabled voters to succeed in the polling cubicles.
Voters throughout Mumbai’s western suburbs, central, and South Mumbai areas expressed satisfaction with the smoother course of this time round. “The queues had been a lot shorter in comparison with the Might elections. I used to be out and in of the sales space inside 5 minutes,” stated Jinita Shroff, a Dadar resident. Through the Might polls, many citizens needed to anticipate over two hours below the tough solar, with some complaining concerning the lack of shade and seating.
The Election Fee elevated the variety of polling cubicles in Mumbai by 219, bringing the overall to 10,117 cubicles for the meeting polls. This enlargement considerably lowered overcrowding, as voters had entry to extra polling areas. Spacious ready rooms had been arrange inside the precincts of most voting stations, although many remained unused as voters had a faster, extra environment friendly expertise.
“The method was streamlined this time,” stated Akash Desai (36), a voter from Andheri. “There have been two separate strains for female and male voters, and I used to be carried out inside seven minutes.” Different voters, like Sameer Shah (48), who had skilled lengthy waits through the Lok Sabha elections, had been impressed by the enhancements. “It’s exceptional how a lot the authorities have improved the method. I used to be carried out in 10 minutes as we speak, in comparison with the nightmare of ready for over an hour over the past elections.”
At some polling stations, such because the one at Dadar, polling cubicles had been reorganised to scale back crowding. One room was designated for every sales space, and separate entry and exit gates had been launched, additional easing the circulate of voters.
Accessibility for elders, disabled
The authorities additionally ensured larger accessibility for senior residents and PwDs. Volunteers had been stationed at entrances to information voters, and particular preparations had been made to help aged voters and people with disabilities. Senior residents had been allowed to convey their automobiles to the doorway of the polling stations, and lots of had been supplied with wheelchairs or different help by volunteers.
“In 2019, there have been no ramps, and I couldn’t vote. This time, volunteers made certain I may vote with none points,” stated Amit Tiwari, a 34-year-old paraplegic from Goregaon. In Mulund, 75-year-old Govind Patel, who was accompanied by his spouse, was promptly provided a wheelchair upon arrival on the polling station.
In some areas, the Election Fee collaborated with native entrepreneurs to offer accessible transport for PwDs. One such initiative got here from Kandivali-based businessman Rohit Jain, who supplied a wheelchair-accessible van to move disabled voters to the polling stations. “Democracy needs to be inclusive, and it’s my responsibility to assist PwDs train their rights,” Jain stated.
Creches, gender-specific cubicles
In a bid to make voting simpler for folks, a number of polling centres arrange creches for kids, significantly for moms with younger youngsters. One such creche on the Navjivan Society in Mahim was managed by Anganwadi staff. Parvati Sonawane, an Anganwadi employee on the centre, stated, “Most mother and father already know us, and it’s very handy for them to depart their youngsters right here whereas they vote.”
On the VJTI polling station in Wadala, a devoted ladies’s sales space, titled Sakhi Matdan Kendra, was arrange, staffed totally by ladies. Ladies voters had been additionally greeted with roses as a part of a particular initiative. “It felt empowering to vote at a sales space with all ladies working,” stated one voter.
Telephones, selfie factors, complaints
The ban on cell phones inside polling cubicles, enforced by the Election Fee, was largely adhered to, although some voters had been inconvenienced by the shortage of amenities to deposit their telephones. “I needed to go residence to retailer my cellphone earlier than returning to vote,” stated Mukesh Joshi (28) from Malad. In Navi Mumbai, cellphone deposit pouches with locks and keys had been supplied, however some voters in Kalyan confronted difficulties when the police refused to permit them to enter with their telephones.
Many citizens expressed disappointment over the absence of selfie factors at some polling stations. “Selfie factors are an effective way to encourage voter participation,” stated Rushikesh Raut (22), a product design engineer from Kalyan. “However there was nothing at my polling station.”
Challenges for transgenders
In Kalyan, a transgender voter, Kene, shared her expertise of being stopped by a feminine police officer whereas making an attempt to entry a polling sales space in an autorickshaw. Kene, who suffers from a spinal wire damage, was initially denied entry and misbehaved with by the officer. “Election day is the one day after we, as transgender folks, really feel like equals in society. This was an upsetting expertise,” she stated. After talking with senior police and election officers, Kene was assured of corrective motion and later solid her vote, together with different members of the transgender group.
Improved Expertise in Thane
Voters in Thane additionally seen enhancements within the voting course of. The variety of polling cubicles in Thane was elevated to six,955, with 337 polling stations arrange inside residential societies. At Akashganga Society, the place there’s a excessive inhabitants density, 4 cubicles had been arrange, considerably lowering ready occasions. “My mom, a senior citizen, was in a position to vote individually, making certain she didn’t have to attend lengthy,” stated Rizwana Sayyed (27), a Thane resident.
Regardless of a couple of bigger polling stations with lengthy strains, the Election Fee had organized shelters, ingesting water stations, and seating to make the expertise as snug as attainable.
General, the 2024 Maharashtra meeting elections in Mumbai noticed important enhancements in infrastructure, accessibility, and voter administration, contributing to a smoother and extra inclusive voting expertise for all.
