Delhi elections: EC gets accolades for 'model polling stations'

New Delhi: A red-carpet welcome, spruced-up infrastructure and e-rickshaws today greeted voters at the nine ‘model polling stations’ here — an initiative of the Delhi election office to make voting a pleasant experience. The unique arrangement drew large appreciation from the voters at these polling stations across nine districts. [caption id=“attachment_1267075” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] “We walked the red carpet escorted by poll duty officials to the booth. Tents were set up and comfortable seating arrangements made. I felt as if I have come to a wedding,” said a voter at one of these stations. The facility of battery-powered rickshaws or e-rickshaws to ferry voters from the entrance gate to the polling booth was a spectacle at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya polling station in Laxminagar constituency. A group of senior citizens that reached the venue gate were excited to board the e-rickshaws which had poster on them reading “May I help you” to reach the polling booths. “We were surprised as an e-rickshaw stopped in front of us and offered us a ride from the entrance gate to the polling booth. It was really a care-taking initiative on the part of the commission,” said Avam Singh, a 65-year-old voter. Kamla Bhatia,a 70-year-old voter at the station, rejoiced as she enjoyed her ride in the e-rickshaw. E-rickshaw facility was available only at this polling station. The ‘model polling stations’ also had spruced-up infrastructure, including freshly-painted interiors and exteriors, along with a prominently-displayed board conveying the names of the location, polling stations, assembly constituency, election district, ECI symbol, national emblem and Delhi logo (in blue and white colours) along with first-aid medical facilities. “We have never seen such decked-up polling stations. They were so clean with proper lighting and ventilation. There were arrangements of drinking water, clean toilets and furniture,” said R K Jindal who had cast his vote at NP Co-Ed Senior Secondary School at Havlock Square in New Delhi constituency. During queue management, priority was given to patients, pregnant women, old people and differently-abled persons for voting. There were signage directing voters to their polling locations. “The aim was to boost voter turnout and also offer the voters a pleasant and comfortable experience,” said District Election Offier of East District Krishna Mohan Uppu. PTI