Pune: Several municipal corporations across the state will set up polling booths within, or in close proximity to, large housing societies, election officials said. The effort is to improve voter participation in the upcoming civic elections.Civic bodies such as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), PCMC and Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) are extending the facility, drawing from the encouraging response recorded during the 2024 assembly elections when such arrangements near residential complexes in select locations saw turnout figures significantly higher than the city’s average, prompting the State Election Commission (SEC) to permit a similar model for municipal elections.Election officials said the initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing urban voter apathy by making the voting process more accessible and convenient. “Bringing polling facilities closer to voters helps remove practical barriers such as distance, confusion about booth locations and long waiting times,” an SEC official said. Societies must ensure adequate security and they do not restrict anyone from entering their society on the day of the voting.Officials clarified that safeguards have been built into the system to prevent any conflict of interest. A polling booth will not be set up in a housing society where a contesting candidate resides. “This condition is mandatory and is being strictly followed,” the official said, adding that there was a positive response from large civic bodies.PMC election commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said several housing societies came forward and agreed to host polling booths. “We received a positive response from societies. This arrangement will make voting more accessible and encourage residents to step out and vote in larger numbers,” Ram said.According to PMC officials, a total of 258 polling booths were planned in and around housing societies across the city, with the highest concentration in the Wanowrie-Ramtekdi area. “The booths are required to be located within a 2-km radius of the voters’ residential area, which ensures convenience,” an official said.Residents welcomed the move, saying it makes the process more organised and less time-consuming. “It is convenient when the booth is close to the society. The process feels more streamlined and encourages people, especially senior citizens, to vote,” a voter whose polling booth was assigned to an adjacent housing society said.In Mumbai, BMC identified around 850 polling booths in or near large residential complexes. PCMC officials also said there would be 40 polling booths in societies.Civic officials said that inconvenience and reluctance to step out on a busy working day remain major reasons for low voter turnout in urban areas. With polling booths located closer to residential clusters, authorities believe participation levels will see a noticeable rise.Request to shift counting day shot down The State Election Commission has not accepted the request from polling staff to move the counting day from Jan 16 to Jan 17 who cited workload concerns. Several senior election officials told TOI that returning officers handling 2 to 3 wards would face immense pressure, as they would need to seal the EVMs after polling and then prepare for counting scheduled to begin at 10am the next day. “It will definitely be very stressful, and we were hoping there would be a change. However, we were informed that it is not possible now and that the issue should have been raised before the final election programme was announced,” an official said.Polling booths near societiesAundh-Baner: 39 Kasba-Vishrambaugwada: 0 Shivajinagar-Ghole Road: 6 Hadapsar-Mundhwa: 1 Kothrud-Bavdhan: 48 Dhankawdi-Sahakarnagar: 14 Nagar Road-Wadgaon Sheri: 2 Sinhagad Road: 23 Bibvewadi: 6 Yerwada-Kalas: 4 Wanowrie-Ramtekdi: 64 Warje-Karvenagar: 45 Kondhwa-Yewalewadi: 6 Total: 258
