Pune: The Election Commission has decided to set up voting booths within housing societies for the upcoming Assembly elections in Pune and the surrounding district. This initiative targets societies with more than 350 apartments, encouraging large residential complexes to host polling stations. District Collector Dr. Suhas Divase has called on these societies to facilitate the process.

In preparation for the Assembly elections, the Election Commission has launched a special brief revision program. Under this program, polling stations will be established in societies with a substantial number of flats. Dr. Divase has urged housing societies to cooperate and provide convenient voting locations for residents.

The Cooperation Department has designated society presidents and secretaries as "booth-level volunteers" for the voter list revision program. Society officials are required to submit lists of eligible voters, residents who have moved out, and deceased individuals to the relevant voter registration officers. Society leaders are also encouraged to promote voter registration and corrections among residents.

Housing societies wishing to host polling stations must provide their name, address, registration number, and estimated voter count to their local booth-level officer or voter registration officer.

Applications can be submitted via the Chief Electoral Officer's website at http://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in through the Google forms links: https://forms.gle/twLTGpjzzy2x9eV36 and https://forms.gle/z261Ah4DDgQxSEvs9.

Currently, Pune has 21 Assembly constituencies with about 35 housing societies hosting polling stations. The number of polling stations is expected to increase, potentially adding 50 to 60 more societies, according to Deputy District Election Officer Meenal Kalaskar.

The reorganization of polling stations aims to allow voters from the same area to vote at nearby booths. However, societies with residents voting at various centers will not be selected for new polling stations.