Chandigarh: A voter has written to Panjab University Chancellor and Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, alleging serious deficiencies in voter facilitation during Sunday’s Senate election, including confusion over the polling venue and the absence of a designated facility for depositing mobile phones.In his complaint, advocate Ajay Jagga said he went to Govt Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22-A, which he said was the polling station notified to him. On reaching the venue, he found considerable activity but was informed at the reception that no Senate polling was taking place there and that examinations were being conducted on the premises.Jagga said he then made enquiries with around 10 people before being directed to Govt Primary School, Sector 22-D, which he was told was the polling venue. He questioned why voters arriving at the originally notified location were not prominently informed that polling had been shifted elsewhere.He also raised concerns over arrangements for mobile phones. According to the complaint, voters were told at the polling station that mobile phones were not allowed inside, but there was no designated counter, locker or organised facility to deposit them.Jagga said that, on his request, a police officer agreed to keep his phone and handed it to another person, assuring him that it would be returned after he cast his vote.Calling it a failure of basic voter facilitation, Jagga has sought a factual report from the vice-chancellor and returning officer on the circumstances surrounding the venue change and the arrangements made to inform voters. He has also asked for an assessment of complaints relating to changed or incorrectly identified polling locations, signage, voter guidance and arrangements for prohibited articles.The complaint further seeks an examination of whether any voters may have been confused, delayed or discouraged from voting because of inadequate communication regarding the polling venue.Jagga argued that the conduct of an election cannot be judged solely by the number of booths set up or polling personnel deployed, but also by whether an eligible voter can locate the correct polling station and cast a vote without unnecessary difficulty.The complaint comes after PU conducted one of its largest Senate election exercises, with 281 polling booths, over 1,500 employees deployed and an estimated expenditure exceeding Rs 2 crore.With polling over and counting scheduled for Sept 23, the university is expected to review complaints and reports from polling stations before the electoral process is formally concluded.
