Lok Sabha elections 2024 | Remember: Phones, gadgets banned in booths

The list of banned items includes mobile phones, cameras, smartwatches, etc

It seemed like a shock and may turn out to be a major chaotic situation after the city election offices issued a statement prohibiting mobile phones at the polling booths on Monday. The suburban district collector hasn't issued a press note but officials said the ban is in place. Though the instruction was issued for all the phases, it wasn't implemented strictly earlier. But after the reels on casting votes inside polling booths went viral, election officials have been asked to implement them strictly.

However, there isn't any provision or system at polling booths to keep voters mobile safe while they cast their votes. So it may affect the voter turnout in the city, which always sees lower voting percentage. As per the press release issued by the district collectors in Mumbai, voters will have to keep their mobile 100 metres outside the polling station before going to cast their vote. District Election Officer Sanjay Yadav informed that voters will be prohibited from taking mobile phones to the polling station on the day of polling.

Not just phones but all other gadgets are banned as well

Not only mobile but headphones, smart watches and cameras are not allowed inside polling booths. Yadav, who looks after South Mumbai and South-Central Mumbai constituencies said, "There is a clear instruction given by the Election Commission of India that it is forbidden to take mobile phones to the polling stations and we are keen to implement every directive of the EC."

One of the officials said the instruction was there for every phase of the election but it wasn't implemented strictly, as nowadays it is not possible to follow it. But after a few reels went viral on social media, it created an issue. "Mobile phones are likely to be misused to disrupt the voting process, disrupt peace at polling stations and create law and order problems. Therefore, voters are prohibited from taking mobile phones to the polling stations on the polling day. Voters will have to keep their mobile 100 metres outside the polling station and go to cast their vote," said Yadav.

"On one hand, the ECI informed us that we could download our voter ID and slip on our mobile and then asked us to keep the mobile away. How can it be possible in an era where we take our mobile to the kitchen and even to the toilets?" asked one of the voters, adding that it will create chaos as well as impact voter turnout, which always remains low in the city.

Another voter said, "Maximum people go to work after casting their vote or vote while returning from their work. How will they manage to keep mobile phones away without any support system at polling booths?"

Stickers showing ban on mobile phones put up at a polling booth in Dharavi. PIC/ASHISH RAJE

Ritesh Khedekar, a voter in Mumbai North constituency, said, "It will be a bit inconvenience as there can be a medical emergency at any time. My mother is quite old and can need medical assistance at any time. I stay alone with my mother and in case of such an emergency, since phones are not allowed, she will not be able to contact me. My mother voted by postal ballot because of age constraints and mobility issues."

Shreyas Shinde, another voter in Mumbai North LS constituency, said, "The decision to ban mobile phones is a good one as the privacy of voting can be maintained. Youth nowadays are addicted to mobile phones and prefer posting all the details of their life on social media. There's a high chance that they may click pictures and videos inside the voting booth and post them on social media platforms revealing who they voted for. This is again a violation of voting privacy."

The mobile ban was implemented in Pune, which went for polling in the fourth phase. Voters faced major inconveniences due to last-minute instructions on the mobile ban. As per the official statement, "The ban will be implemented in all 13 constituencies going to poll on Monday, including Thane, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai.

1.83 crore voters in MMR to decide fate of 205 candidates today

About 1.83 crore voters in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will today decide the fate of the 205 candidates in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls among the 10 constituencies.

Voting will be held for 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in Thane and Palghar districts along with Mumbai on Monday. There are 205 candidates and 1.83 crore voters will participate in this election. According to the election commission data, there are 19,208 polling booths in the 10 constituencies.

There are 98.03 lakh voters in the 6 constituencies of Mumbai. While Palghar constituency has 20.63 lakh voters, Bhiwandi has 20.39 lakh, Kalyan has 20.18 lakh and Thane constituency has 24.43 lakh voters. There are 116 candidates in the six constituencies of Mumbai; 10 in Palghar, 27 in Bhiwandi, 28 in Kalyan and 24 in Thane.

Special booths
After the success of all-women polling booths in previous polls, Mumbai will now have all-youth and all-handicapped polling booths. The all-women polling booth was operated by an all-women staff. In Mumbai there will be six booths, also known as link booths, with all women polling staff.