EC to provide mobile phone deposit facility for voters at polling stations
Several voters who go to cast their votes take their phones inside polling booths by concealing the device in their clothes due to the absence of a facility to deposit it.
In another move, seeking to rationalise poll day management, the Election Commission (EC) decided to allow parties and candidates to set up booths to distribute unofficial voter identification slips at 100 metres from the polling station entrance.
Till now, the limit was 200 metres from the "polling location".
These two key reforms will first be implemented in Bihar, where assembly polls will be held later this year.
Recognising the increasing coverage and usage of mobile phones in urban and rural areas and the challenges faced not only by the voters at large but also senior citizens, women and persons with disabilities in managing mobile phones on polling day, the commission has decided to allow a mobile deposit facility just outside the polling stations, the EC said.
'Only mobile phones shall be allowed within 100 metres of the polling station and that too in switched-off mode. Very simple pigeonhole boxes or jute bags shall be provided near the entrance door of the polling station where the voters would be required to deposit their mobile phones. Mobile phones shall not be allowed to be carried inside the polling station,' the poll authority said.
However, it said, certain polling stations could be exempt from this provision based on adverse local circumstances by the returning officer.
Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which ensures secrecy of voting within the polling station, will continue to be strictly enforced, it underlined.
The EC said that in a move aimed at improving election day facilitation, it rationalised the permissible norms for canvassing in line with the electoral laws to 100 metres from the entrance of the polling station.
However, electioneering will not be allowed within a 100-metre radius around the polling station on the day of polling.
"Therefore, the booths set up by the candidates on poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors, in case the electors are not carrying their official Voter Information Slips (VIS) issued by the commission, can now be set up just beyond 100 metres of any polling station," it said.
One "polling location", such as a school, can have multiple polling stations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
11 minutes ago
- India Today
Next Bangladesh general election set for Feb 2026 before Ramzan: Muhammad Yunus
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday announced that the next general election would be held in February, as thousands of people joined a rally in Dhaka to mark the first anniversary of the 'July Uprising' that toppled longtime prime minister Sheikh Hasina."On behalf of the interim government, I will send a letter to the chief election commissioner requesting that the Election Commission hold the national election in February 2026, before Ramzan," Yunus said in a televised address to the nation on the first anniversary of last year's student-led protest movement - dubbed as 'July Uprising'.advertisementThe month of Ramzan is set to begin on February 17 or 18 next year, depending on the sighting of the moon. Earlier, general elections in Bangladesh were scheduled for the first half of April next year. "We want this election to be memorable in our nation's history - in terms of joy and festivity, peace and order, voter turnout, and in terms of harmony and sincerity," Yunus said as he promised to extend all possible support to ensure a 'free, fair, peaceful, and festive' 85, said his government would start "both mental and institutional readiness to accomplish all necessary preparations, starting tomorrow".The interim government led by Yunus has disbanded all activities of Hasina's Awami League and arrested its top leaders, resulting in the emergence of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as the single major actor in the political arena.A large offshoot of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), which led the protests against Hasina, formed the National Citizen Party (NCP) in February, apparently with Yunus' blessings. The NCP recently presented its manifesto, vowing to turn Bangladesh into a 'Second Republic' and scrap the country's post-independence 1972 NCP is believed to have developed ties with far-right Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist groups against Yunus called the 'July Uprising' anniversary an 'unforgettable chapter in the history of Bangladesh' as it had led to "liberating our beloved nation from the grip of long-standing fascist rule".Before delivering the televised address, Yunus read out the 'July Declaration' in front of the Jatiya Sangsad or the Parliament complex, saying the Uprising Day should serve as a reminder that the struggle for a better future continues.'The people of Bangladesh express their desire that the student-people uprising of 2024 will get proper state and constitutional recognition and that the July declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution as framed by the government formed through the next national election,' Yunus said, reading from the Yunus-led interim government wanted to give constitutional recognition to the student-led uprising. This recognition is known as the July over 1,000-word declaration described in detail the activities of the ousted 'fascist' regime, adding that 'therefore the people of Bangladesh express a strong desire' to bring the former rulers under trial for crimes of enforced disappearance and murder, individual and mass killings, and crimes against humanity.'This document of declaration is written to reflect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh at the event of the victory in the mass uprising of August 5, 2024,' Yunus forces enforced a strict vigil throughout the capital, with armoured vehicles patrolling the streets apparently to deter any attempt by Hasina's now-banned Awami League party to disrupt the day's events that included rallies, concerts, and prayer sessions. The representatives of major political parties joined the apart from scattered political rallies, the streets of the capital were quiet amid inclement weather marked by incessant to political analysts, the anniversary came as Hasina, now on self–exile in India, faces trial on charges like crimes against humanity while most of her colleagues in the cabinet and in her Awami League party are in jail or on the run at home and political analysts said Bangladesh is far from political stability, a year after the bloody uprising that claimed hundreds of said that despite the bloodshed, the prospect for a better Bangladesh with a liberal democracy, political tolerance, and religious and communal harmony remained a challenge."The hope of the thousands who braved lethal violence a year ago when they opposed Sheikh Hasina's abusive rule to build a rights-respecting democracy remains unfulfilled," New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch said in a statement on the eve of the was installed as Chief Adviser of the interim government on August 8 last year, three days after the ouster of the 16-year-long Awami League regime, when Hasina left the country in an air force helicopter escorted by army troops."Together, we will build a Bangladesh where tyranny will never rise again," Yunus had earlier said in a statement coinciding with the anniversary. He added that a peaceful, fair, and transparent election could be held early next said, "fallen autocrats and their self-serving allies remain active" as he called for protecting the gains of the government is now holding reform talks with political parties and civil interim administration declared the Uprising Day anniversary a public holiday.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
'Can't comment on actions of EC': Centre cites 1988 ruling to reject Opposition demands for Bihar SIR debate
NEW DELHI: The Union government has signaled its unwillingness to allow a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh invoking a 1988 ruling by former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar to reject the Opposition's demand. On Tuesday, Harivansh cited Jakhar's December 1988 decision, which barred parliamentary discussion on the functioning or decisions of the Election Commission (EC), stating that the autonomous body's actions cannot be scrutinized in the House. 'You know that I cannot comment upon the actions and decisions of the EC, which is an autonomous body. Never before have I done it, nor will I do it now. Unless you amend the Constitution and bring the EC under parliamentary purview, we cannot discuss its decisions,' Harivansh said, quoting Jakhar's ruling. The Deputy Chairman's remarks came as he dismissed 34 notices submitted by Opposition MPs, most seeking the suspension of business under Rule 267 to urgently debate the SIR in Bihar and other states. Harivansh cited procedural flaws, including incorrect formatting, the sub judice nature of some matters, and the absence of precedent for such discussions. He expressed concern over the frequent misuse of Rule 267, meant for 'rarest of rare' cases, noting that most notices lacked proper citations or pertained to issues outside Parliament's jurisdiction. 'Despite clear rules, some members are using Rule 267 casually, disrupting proceedings when their notices are disallowed,' he said. Highlighting historical data, Harivansh pointed out that very few such notices had been accepted—none between 2000–2004, only four from 2004–2009, one out of 491 during 2009–2014, and just six out of 3,152 between 2014 and the 2025 Budget Session.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
41 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Abhishek Banerjee warns TMC workers over performance, flags NRC, SIR risks
Setting the course of the party's roadmap ahead of 2026 assembly polls, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday issued a blunt warning to underperforming booth-level functionaries and mounted a fierce attack on the BJP and the Election Commission over the alleged exclusion of Bengali-speaking voters from electoral rolls. In a high-stakes virtual meeting with party leaders, Banerjee said booth presidents who fail to deliver will be replaced, and those indulging in politics of self-interest will face serious disciplinary backlashes. If you can't take responsibility, step aside, Banerjee was quoted as saying by a party insider who attended the meeting. A three-time MP from Diamond Harbour and Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek, who is widely seen as the de facto No. 2 in the party, was on Monday named the TMC Lok Sabha leader. According to several TMC leaders present at the closed-door virtual meet, Banerjee said, This election is not just about votes, it's about protecting our identity, our language, and our dignity. The BJP wants to brand every Bengali as Bangladeshi. We must fight back on the ground, in court, and before the Commission.. Banerjee referred to the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and warned that booth-level leaders must remain vigilant as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visit households. Any negligence in this task will not be tolerated, a party MLA quoted him as saying. He told booth-level presidents to be alert. If BJP-backed BLOs or officials are manipulating the process, their names must be reported to the district presidents, who will escalate it to the top leadership, said a TMC leader. Citing the NRC notices issued to people in parts of North Bengal, Banerjee alleged that the BJP was using the backdoor through the Election Commission to delete names from the rolls. Even today, fresh NRC notices are being served. BJP is testing how far they can push. If they win, they will call everyone Bangladeshis, he said, according to a senior TMC leader. Referring to a Delhi Police communication that allegedly labelled Bengali citizens as Bangladeshis, Banerjee said, Why are Bengal's BJP MPs and MLAs silent on this insult?. Banerjee also targeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his past remarks suggesting Bengali speakers could be sent to detention camps. These people oppose Durga Puja, insult Bengali language, and look at us with hatred, he told party colleagues. On the TMC government's flagship programme Amader Para, Amader Samadhan', Banerjee said it was the first-of-its-kind initiative since Independence and must be implemented in full sincerity. Abhishek said that the Rs 10 lakh allocated for each area must be spent strictly on local public demands. No interference will be tolerated from panchayat chiefs, councillors, or MLAs, said a party leader from South 24 Parganas. He urged MLAs to increase their outreach. Even if you can't fix problems right away, people want to be heard. Listen to them. That matters, he told them. Party insiders said Banerjee was especially critical of those more focused on proximity to senior leadership than grassroots work. He said, Those doing I-you politics will face very bad consequences. You are here because the party exists. Loyalty without performance means nothing. If the people reject us, none of us matters', said a senior party functionary. There are booths where we have lost repeatedly. Those in charge there don't deserve to stay on. Performance is the only criterion. This applies to everyone, Banerjee said, according to one MLA. He also attacked the BJP over financial deprivation, stating that over Rs 1.75 lakh crore due to West Bengal has been withheld by the Centre. Banerjee asked area presidents to hold regular booth-level meetings with at least 30-40 local residents to build public trust and counter the BJP's narrative. He made it clear that BJP is conspiring to deny people their right to vote. But if people can vote freely, BJP's deposit will be forfeited, said a district leader. In a final rallying call, Banerjee reminded the party of its past victories and future goals. We reduced the BJP from 18 to 12 Lok Sabha seats. Why can't we bring them from 77 to below 40 in the Assembly? Mamata Banerjee's single-engine government is stronger than all their double-engine failures. Let's prove it, a TMC leader quoted him. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
