Special Interview : Efforts like increasing the number of polling stations have led to a rise in voter turnout : S. Chokalingam, Chief Election Officer

Special Interview with Daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’

Chief Election Officer S. Chokalingam spoke with Sanatan Prabhat

Mumbai – Compared to 2019, voter turnout in this year’s Maharashtra Assembly elections increased by over 3.5%, amounting to several lakhs of additional votes. In an exclusive interview with Sanatan Prabhat, Chief Election Officer S. Chokalingam shared key insights, which are presented here for readers’ information.

1. Election Commission’s Special Efforts to Increase Voter Turnout

S. Chokalingam stated, “During the Lok Sabha elections, the polling day coincided with a holiday, but for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, we deliberately chose a weekday to reduce the tendency of people taking long weekends and traveling out of town. To encourage voter registration among 18-year-olds, efforts were made even two days before the polls. Additionally, the Election Commission took special steps to facilitate voting for the differently-abled and elderly by visiting their residences. Arrangements were also made for police and administrative officers on duty to vote at designated centers. These measures contributed to a noticeable increase in voter turnout.”

2. Mumbai Municipal Commissioner’s Contribution to Improved Voting Rates

Bhushan Gagrani, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, was entrusted with the responsibility of District Election Officer. Under his leadership and with the support of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, significant efforts were made to boost voter turnout in Mumbai, resulting in a higher voting percentage compared to previous elections.

3. Awareness Campaigns in Naxal-Affected Areas

Efforts were made not only in Maharashtra but across all Naxal-affected regions of the country to raise awareness and encourage voting. As a result, voter turnout increased significantly in these areas, where the influence of Naxalites has been diminishing.

4. Challenges with the Voter List Persist; Efforts to Improve the Process

Many voters check their names in the voter list only on polling day, but they are encouraged to verify this beforehand. Election officials also have to extensively review voter lists before the elections, making the process prone to errors. Despite the challenges, the Election Commission is working on improving this process for greater accuracy.

5. Mistakes During Lok Sabha Elections Were Avoided This Time

“We made efforts to improve the facilities at polling stations compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and rectified the shortcomings observed during those polls,” said Chokalingam. While there were 98,000 polling stations during the Lok Sabha elections, over 1 lakh polling stations were set up for this Assembly election. During the Lok Sabha elections, polling stations were established in 150 housing societies, whereas this time, more than 1,000 housing societies had polling stations, which also positively impacted voter turnout.