Manjalpur Bypoll: 260 Polling Booths Ready for 2.19 Lakh Voters; Mobile Deposit Centres Introduced

Vadodara: The election administration has completed all administrative, security and technical preparations for the by-election to the 145-Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Vadodara district. All arrangements have been put in place for polling on July 30 (Thursday) under the supervision of the District Election Officer and Collector to ensure a free, fair and transparent election.

A total of 2,19,494 voters will decide the political fate of the two candidates in the fray. The by-election will witness a direct contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress). Notably, the constituency recorded a voter turnout of 60.15 per cent in the 2022 Assembly elections.

Voter Details

• Total voters: 2,19,494
• Male voters: 1,11,645
• Female voters: 1,07,847
• Third gender voters: 2
• PwD voters: 1,634
• Voters aged 85 years and above: 1,406
• Centenarian voters (100+ years): 12

107 Voters Cast Their Votes Through Home Voting

As part of the home voting facility, election teams visited eligible voters at their residences on July 22 and 23. A total of 107 voters cast their votes through ballot papers, including 90 senior citizens.

260 Polling Stations Ready

The constituency has 260 polling stations spread across 62 locations. All polling stations have been equipped with essential facilities such as ramps, drinking water, electricity and toilets.

Special arrangements include:

• 2 all-women polling stations
• 2 polling stations managed by PwD staff
• 5 model polling stations

Election Commission’s New Initiatives

The Election Commission of India’s latest initiatives will also be implemented during the by-election, including:

• 100 per cent webcasting and CCTV coverage at all 260 polling stations
• Mobile deposit counters outside polling stations for voters
• Real-time voter turnout updates every two hours through the ECINET app
• A maximum limit of 1,200 voters per polling booth to ensure smoother polling

EVMs and Security Arrangements

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Makarpura has been designated as the dispatch centre, receipt centre, strong room and counting centre.

A total of 519 Ballot Units (BUs), 502 Control Units (CUs) and 498 VVPATs have been kept ready for the election.

To monitor election expenditure and enforce the Model Code of Conduct, 9 Flying Squads (FSTs), 3 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), 2 Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs) and 1 Anti-Defacement Team have been deployed.

Valid Identity Documents for Voting

In addition to the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC), voters may use any one of the 12 identity documents approved by the Election Commission of India, including an Aadhaar card, driving licence, passport, PAN card, MNREGA job card and Ayushman Bharat Health Card.

Special Facilities for Senior Citizens and PwD Voters

Wheelchairs and volunteers will be available at all polling stations to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities, ensuring a smooth and accessible voting experience.

One C-Vigil Complaint Registered

Since the election was announced, only one complaint has been received through the C-Vigil app. The complaint was resolved by the Election Commission within the stipulated 100-minute time frame.

The district election administration has appealed to all eligible voters to exercise their franchise and participate enthusiastically in the democratic process. DeshGujarat