Chennai, Oct 19:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed that no polling station in Tamil Nadu should have more than 1,200 electors without prior approval from the poll panel. The move is part of efforts to rationalise polling stations and ensure smoother voting arrangements ahead of the next electoral exercises in the State.
Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) would undertake physical verification and rearrange polling stations as part of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls. She instructed officials to distribute voters equitably among polling stations, wherever possible, to avoid overcrowding and improve the management of polling.
Patnaik also stressed that polling station boundaries should not overlap and that voters should not have to travel more than two kilometres to reach their designated polling stations. The guidelines are intended to make voting more accessible and convenient, particularly for elderly people and residents in remote areas.
As part of the preparatory exercise, the Chief Electoral Officer will hold a consultative meeting with recognised political parties at the Secretariat on October 23. The ECI has recognised 12 political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
The Special Summary Revision is scheduled to begin in Tamil Nadu on November 12. During the month-long exercise, eligible voters can apply to have their names included in the electoral rolls. The rationalisation process is expected to help officials prepare more manageable polling stations while ensuring that voters retain convenient access to their assigned booths.