BMF [ASSAM]

Polling Stations represent one of the most crucial aspects and the focal symbol of electoral democracy. Section 25 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 envisages that the District Election Officer (DEO) is responsible for the provision of polling station and publication of the list of polling stations. With some advance intervention at the level of DEO, the conditions at the polling stations can be vastly improved.

2. Though instructions have been issued over a period of time that cover almost all the major concerns and aspects of polling station management, the Commission has observed with great concern that there are gaps in actual implementation of these instructions. The Commission attaches greater importance to the voter participation and his / her experience at polling station and in the past, provisions for voter friendly facilities and amenities have been incorporated in the Commission's directions. ln continuation of the Commission's instructions issued vide its letters mentioned at Annexure-l on the subject mentioned against those, the following instructions on facilities to be provided at the polling stations and to the voters shall be followed strictly.

3. The Commission identified the list of Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) which every DEO shall provide at each polling station within his district. These Basic Minimum Facilities are:

i. Provision for ramp

ii. Provision for drinking water

iii. Adequate furniture

iv. Proper lighting

v. Help Desk

vi. Proper signage

vii. Toilet

A note on assessment and inventory of Basic Minimum Facilitles at Polling Stations

is enclosed herewith.

3. The Commission desires that the following instructions, to assess and

make inventory of the polling station locations in the States / UTs, are carried out

strictly and scrupulously:

l. The DEO and the Returning Officer (RO) shall do an advance exercise well

before the election to get the conditions of the polling stations physically

verified by the field officials. The Sector Officers should visit each polling

station / location within his / her jurisdiction to assess whether it is use worthy.

The Returning Officer should physically verify 10% of the polling stations /

locations.

ll. The DEOs should form territorial teams / squads to visit each and every

polling station location and prepare a video docurnentation on the condition of

polling station and existing amenities and a feedback on action to be taken for

each such polling station as per Annexure-ll. During videography, the

following points should be covered:

a. access / entry of the polling station locations;

b. surroundings of the polling station;

c. existence of boundary wall; if any.

d. building area, open space, number of rooms;

e. actual location of Polling Station within the premises/campus;

f. availability / location of civic amenities like drinking water, toilets,

electricity, ramp, furniture, shades etc.

lll. At the beginning of videography, the following should be displayed on a card

board and captured on camera, as well as spelt out in voice-over:

a. District Name;

b. AC Number & Name;

c. PS Location Number & Name;

d. PS Number and address.