10,111 Polling Stations in Greater Mumbai for the 2024 Assembly Elections

Mumbai : In preparation for the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, the Election Commission of India has directed the streamlining of polling stations in Greater Mumbai (comprising Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts) to make voting more convenient for voters. As a result of this effort, the number of polling stations in the Greater Mumbai area has increased to 10,111, marking an addition of 218 stations compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections. This change reduces the average number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200, facilitating a smoother and faster voting process.

In line with the instructions from both the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission, preparations for the upcoming assembly elections are being made under the leadership of District Election Returning Officer and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. The adjustments to the polling stations have been carried out according to these guidelines.

The decision to cap the number of voters at each polling station to an average of 1,200 led to the decentralization of some polling locations with a high concentration of stations. Consequently, the number of polling booths has increased in certain areas of Greater Mumbai compared to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

On September 19, 2024, a meeting was held at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters with representatives of political parties to discuss the reorganization of polling stations across various constituencies in Greater Mumbai. The meeting, led by Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, provided detailed information about the changes. The session was guided by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. Other key attendees included Additional District Election Officer and Mumbai City Collector Sanjay Yadav, Special Duty Officer (Elections) Vijay Balamwar, and officials from various political parties.

During the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections, Mumbai City District had 2,509 polling stations, while Mumbai Suburban District had 7,384. Following the streamlining process, the numbers have risen to 2,537 and 7,574, respectively, bringing the total number of polling stations in Greater Mumbai to 10,111.

To ensure that voters are well informed about changes to polling station locations, the administration has launched an awareness campaign called “Know Your Polling Station.” Under this initiative, voter registration officers will visit homes to update voters on the new locations. Additionally, voters will be informed via written communication and media outlets.