SEC to keep schools out of civic elections

Updated on: 21 October,2011 08:55 AM IST |
A correspondent |

Polling booths may be set up in housing colonies, private places as most school exams are conducted in February

Polling booths may be set up in housing colonies, private places as most school exams are conducted in February

Theu00a0civic polls may be conducted in residential colonies or other private places, if necessary, as the State Election Commission (SEC) does not want to disturb students and schools during the elections to be held in February.

Poll time: State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan speaks at
a press conference yesterday. Pic/Ishan Ghosh

State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan said the election commission was considering this option, as February would be the peak period of school examinations. She was speaking at a press conference yesterday.
"The SEC is considering setting up the polling booths at private places like large residential colonies that have more than 800 members or private halls having facilities such as water and washrooms.

The main reason is because schools may not be available for voting purpose during the HSC board and other school exams." She said wards had been reserved for schedule caste and tribes candidates according to the 2001 census. Satyanarayan said the SEC did not have the right to increase the seats for reserved castes according to the increased population in 2011, as the details of the latest census were not available.u00a0