426 Polling Booths to be Controlled by Women for Assembly Elections

Mumbai : The Central Election Commission has ordered the establishment of “women-controlled polling booths.” For this assembly election, 426 polling booths in the state will be managed entirely by women. These women-controlled booths are intended to boost women’s participation in the voting process.

Nashik district will have the highest number of women-controlled polling booths, with a total of 45. This is followed by Jalgaon with 33, Gondia with 32, Solapur with 29, and Mumbai Suburban with 26 such booths. Meanwhile, districts with the fewest women-controlled polling booths include Washim, Sindhudurg, Gadchiroli, and Hingoli, each with three.

All personnel at these women-controlled polling booths, from police officers to election officials and staff, will be women. This initiative is part of the commitment to gender equality and to encouraging a more constructive role for women in the voting process. Per the Election Commission’s guidelines, no specific colors will be used at these booths, and unnecessary use of colors associated with political parties will be avoided.

This decision to establish “women-controlled polling booths” aims to enhance women’s participation in voting. Booths will be selected with a focus on safety, avoiding sensitive locations and instead choosing centers near tehsil offices or police stations, as well as locations where election officials are in constant contact.

District-wise Women-Controlled Polling Booths:
Ahmednagar – 12, Akola – 6, Amravati – 8, Aurangabad – 13, Beed – 8, Bhandara – 8, Buldhana – 7, Chandrapur – 9, Dhule – 5, Jalna – 6, Kolhapur – 10, Latur – 6, Mumbai City – 12, Nagpur – 13, Nanded – 9, Nandurbar – 4, Osmanabad – 4, Palghar – 6, Parbhani – 8, Pune – 21, Raigad – 9, Ratnagiri – 6, Sangli – 8, Satara – 17, Thane – 18, Wardha – 9, and Yavatmal – 7.