Hsg soc booths too fail to attract voters

A positive initiative undertaken by the state election commission (SEC) to float polling booths within the premises of housing societies received a lukewarm response from voters who failed to turn up in large numbers despite polling booths located so close to their homes.

Among the 28 buildings where the SEC set up such a facility was Gulmohar society in Ward 173 (Wadala). The purpose of these polling booths was to streamline polling and register an increased voting percentage. But the move failed to yield a positive response with only 575 of the total 1,100 citizens listed at the booth showing up to cast their votes.

“It is a very good initiative taken by the commission. But the response remained below 50%,” an EC official said on condition of anonymity.

A political observer said, “Voters, especially ones living in high-rises, hate lining up for polling at a school/government office. To change this attitude, the commission had set up booths in societies. But the purpose seems to have been defeated,” he said.

He also added that Thane had fared far better. “In Thane, 282 housing societies welcomed the move of setting up polling booths within their premises, as against 28 in a large city like Mumbai. When people complain about loopholes in the SEC’s functioning, they should also appreciate the positive steps taken by the commission,” he said.