New Delhi, 22 March (H.S.):

The Election Commission of India has issued strict directions to make the voting experience more comfortable and convenient for electors during the upcoming Assembly elections and bye‑elections. The poll body has laid down a set of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) and voter‑support measures that must be enforced at all 2,18,807 polling stations across poll‑bound states and Union Territories on 23 March 2026.

Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) have been asked to ensure that every polling station is fully equipped with basic infrastructure before the voting dates. The Commission has emphasised that drinking water, shaded waiting areas, toilets with water supply, adequate lighting, suitably sloped ramps for differently‑abled voters, standard‑sized voting compartments and clear signage must be mandatory at all booths.

Officers have also been directed to place benches at regular intervals along the queue so that voters can sit and rest while waiting for their turn.

To improve awareness and guidance at the booth level, the ECI has ordered that four standardised Voter Facilitation Posters (VFPs) be prominently displayed at every polling station. These posters will carry details of the polling booth, the list of contesting candidates, do’s and don’ts, a list of valid identity documents and a simple explanation of the voting process. The aim is to help voters access key information quickly and accurately without confusion.

The poll panel has also enhanced on‑ground assistance by directing the setting up of a Voter Assistance Booth (VAB) at each polling station. The booth will have a team of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and staff who will help voters locate their allotted booth number and serial number in the voter list immediately after they enter the premises. The VABs will carry clear signboards so that voters can spot them easily on polling day.

Another key convenience measure is the introduction of a mobile‑phone deposit facility outside polling centres. Electors will be allowed to hand over their switched‑off phones to a designated volunteer at the entry point before entering the polling area and retrieve the device after voting. This step is intended to reduce crowd pressure inside the booth and prevent any violation of the ban on using mobile phones within the voting premises.

The Election Commission has made it clear that these measures are mandatory and must be strictly implemented. All field officers have been instructed to review and complete the arrangements well in advance of the poll dates so that voters do not face any avoidable inconvenience on election day.

The directives form part of the ECI’s broader push to make the upcoming Assembly polls and bye‑elections more inclusive, transparent and voter‑friendly.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar