Overview
- The Election Commission of India, which approved the plan Saturday, added 4,660 auxiliary booths and cleared 321 relocations, taking the total to 85,379 polling stations.
- Auxiliary booths will sit next to any station with more than 1,200 registered voters to cut long queues and speed up voting.
- Officials must inform every voter individually if a polling station is moved to prevent confusion on election day.
- Polling places will carry Assured Minimum Facilities such as drinking water, shade, toilets, ramps, lighting, clear signs, plus Voter Assistance Booths and phone deposit points outside entrances.
- The Commission will deploy a record 2.4 lakh central security personnel and keep 500 companies after the May 4 count to secure the two-phase polling on April 23 and 29.