WB gears up for historic LS polls: Over 15 lakhs 1st time voters, 5942 women run booths

As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, preparations are in full swing in WB, with particular attention given to first-time voters. According to data provided by the Election Commission, an impressive 15.25 lakh voters aged between 18 to 19 years are poised to cast their ballots for the first time in the state. With a total voter count of 7.58 crore, West Bengal boasts 3.85 crore male and 3.73 crore female voters. Additionally, the state is home to 4.86 lakh voters aged above 85 years, along with 4.92 lakh disabled voters, 1.14 lakh service voters, and 1,837 third-gender voters.

In an effort to ensure smooth and inclusive participation, special measures have been implemented, particularly catering to the needs of elderly, disabled, and women voters. 

5942 booths in Bengal will be run by women, one in each district will be managed by persons with disabilities.

The State Election Commission (SEC) in Benagl deployed similar set up in Panchayat elections. Women-specific “pink booths” were set up in different districts for the rural polls. During the rural polls, polling agents in the booths, exclusive for women voters, were also be females.

Berhampore subdivision alone, there were 200 pink booths — 40 in each of the five blocks. There were 30 pink booths in each of the 21 blocks in Murshidabad.

The speciality about these booths are that these booths were decorated with 'pink' balloons. Booth entrance also featured the same colour. Even the workers' clothes were pink. Somewhere the walls of these booths were also painted in pink.