The Election Commission has directed temporary bamboo fencing at polling stations without boundary walls and tightened instructions for election staff to strengthen security and maintain neutrality before voting begins.
Kolkata, April 16 — Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered enhanced security measures at polling stations identified as vulnerable, including the installation of temporary bamboo barricades around booths that do not have permanent boundary walls.
The move comes as part of preparations to ensure a free, fair, and secure polling process during the two-phase election scheduled later this month.
Key Security Measures at Polling Stations
According to sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, several polling booths — many of them located inside school campuses — were found during inspections to be lacking proper enclosures.
Officials believe that the absence of boundary walls could create security gaps, allowing unauthorized individuals to enter polling premises without passing through designated checkpoints monitored by central armed police forces.
To address this, the Commission has instructed local authorities to erect temporary bamboo fencing around such booths. The temporary barricading is intended to regulate access and ensure that voters enter only through secured and monitored points.
The issue is said to be more serious in remote and forested regions, where polling stations are often situated amid dense vegetation or in open areas, making surveillance more difficult.
In such locations, the ECI has also asked for additional deployment of security personnel to strengthen monitoring.
Instructions for Booth Level Officers
The Commission has separately issued directions to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) regarding the distribution of voter slips.
Officials have been instructed to carry out door-to-door distribution themselves, following the approach adopted during the recent Special Intensive Revision exercise. The Commission has made it clear that this task must not be handed over to workers or representatives of any political party.
This step is aimed at maintaining the integrity of voter outreach and preventing any perception of partisan involvement in the electoral process.
Strict Neutrality Guidelines for Polling Staff
Ahead of the first phase of voting, sector officers, presiding officers, and other election personnel have been reminded to maintain complete neutrality.
They have been specifically directed not to seek or accept assistance from political parties or their agents on polling day.
In addition, the Commission has advised election staff not to accept food, water, or any other material support from political representatives. Instead, all logistical arrangements are to be provided exclusively by the administration.
These instructions are intended to reinforce trust in the polling process and avoid any allegations of bias or undue influence.
Why This Matters
Election security and staff neutrality are key components of the ECI’s efforts to ensure credible elections, particularly in areas considered sensitive or vulnerable.
Temporary barricading at unsecured booths can help prevent crowding, unauthorized access, and possible disruptions, especially in rural and geographically challenging regions.
The additional guidelines for election staff also underscore the Commission’s focus on institutional independence and procedural transparency.
Polling Schedule
Voting in West Bengal will be held in two phases — April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Authorities are expected to complete all security and administrative arrangements before the first phase begins.
inputs and images : Hindustan samachar
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Edited By D.Rishidhar Reddy
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