Pune: The state election authorities have raised the number of electors in a polling station from 1,200 to 1,300. They will complete the rationalisation of polling stations by Aug 24 and the draft electoral roll will be published on Aug 31.The move comes as the state prepares to redraw its network of more than one lakh polling stations following the SIR exercise. Polling stations with fewer than 300 electors could be merged with nearby booths, subject to accessibility and other logistical considerations.Officials said the higher ceiling was possible as there is no immediate election. It would also enable BLOs deployed extensively for the SIR exercise to return to their regular departmental duties.“There is no immediate election and therefore we have decided to keep the maximum number of electors per polling station somewhat high. This will help balance the number of polling stations and also release BLOs who have been engaged in SIR work,” a senior election official said.The rationalisation will be supervised by 288 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and around 7,100 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). The officers will also oversee hearings and disposal of cases relating to logical discrepancies and unmapped voters after the publication of the draft roll.Officials said the number of electors attached to a polling station would not be the only consideration while deciding mergers or redistribution. Accessibility, distance, a building’s capacity and existing geographical boundaries would also be examined to ensure voters are not inconvenienced.The decision to increase the ceiling has raised concern among political parties. Representatives fear that assigning up to 1,300 electors to a booth could result in voters from different localities under the same polling station. They have also raised concerns that voters could be shifted to booths away from their existing areas merely to meet the revised limit.Officials said the exercise would take into account both administrative requirements and voter convenience while finalising the polling-station network.
