The Hindu Business Line : Tight security for Maharashtra polls

Briefing the press, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr U.P.S. Madan, said stringent security arrangements had been made to ensure peaceful polling. In addition to the 70,000 police and 30,000 Home Guards from the State, 2,390 paramilitary force personnel, 4,700 civil police and 5,700 Home Guards have been deployed from the Centre.

Out of the 64,507polling booths, nearly 4,076 were identified as sensitive and 431 as hyper-sensitive. A total of 3,43,61,611 male voters and 3,15,51,654 female voters would exercise their franchise.

About 30 lakh new voters have registered themselves on the voting list. Of this, about 30 per cent are first time voters.

Much has been done by Maharashtra State Election Commission to facilitate rapid and easy polling. Special arrangements have been made by the EC for senior citizens and physically challenged persons. Senior citizens are not required to stand in queue and will be allowed to go directly to the head of the line along with their companion.

Staff on election duty will be available to help wheelchair bound voters.

Of special note is the pilot project to assist visually challenged voters. Mr Madan said the Maharashtra Election Commission would carry out a pilot project in 38 polling stations in Mumbai and in the neighbouring districts of Thane, Belapur, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar.

Explaining the Braille system Mr Madan said, "A dummy ballot paper will be given to the visually challenged voter by a presiding officer. The voter could physically feel it and decide whom he wants to vote for. Then he will be taken to the EVM, where he would detect the same serial number to vote on. The system will enable the visually challenged persons to retain secrecy and privacy of their franchise."

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