Pune: Voters across the city are carefully double-checking and verifying their ward as also polling booth details, especially in recently merged areas like Sus, Wagholi, Lohegaon, Undri and Pisoli where ward boundaries and booth locations have changed following delimitation.Citizens are using online voter search links and helplines to ensure that their names appear in the electoral rolls. Election officials have also urged voters to do the same before heading to polling booths.Wagholi resident Ramesh Khandve said, “We knew exactly where our booth was in the past. Our area expanded and wards were redrawn. Therefore, I checked the voter search link twice and also confirmed with our society office, so that there are no doubts on the polling day.”There are subtle changes in the western parts of the city too. In Kothrud, residents of neighbouring buildings and, in some cases, even the same housing society have found their names listed under different ward offices. This has prompted discussions within the housing societies.Shubhangi Kulkarni, who has been staying in Kothrud for long, said, “I found my name listed under the Kothrud ward office jurisdiction, but my neighbour’s name is in another ward office. It is not a problem as long as we know where to head. It does indicate though that people need to cross-check their names for exact details.”Voters from Lohegaon and Vimannagar said that in eastern Pune, social media groups and housing society notices have played a key role in spreading awareness about polling booths. Volunteers and first-time voters are sharing official links and screenshots to help residents verify their details in advance.Lohegaon resident Akash More said, “We are cautious rather than confused. Nobody wants to reach the booth and realise their name is listed elsewhere. It is better to confirm now than lose time on polling day.”Similarly, in the suburbs of Undri and Pisoli, residents said development of new housing societies has made booth mapping complex. Many voters have found that their designated polling booth is different from previous elections, even though their address remains the same.“Our building is new. We were not sure which booth would be assigned to us. I checked online and also called the helpline. Now I know where to go and have informed others in my building,” said Farzana Shaikh, a Pisoli resident.Election officials said such keen verification is a sign of voter awareness and not chaos. An official said, “Voters had insisted on accurate electoral rolls and that ward-wise information be widely published through online platforms and local notices.”
