Thiruvananthapuram: The Election Commission has issued strict instructions to political parties regarding the setting up and operation of polling booths on election day. As per the guidelines, booths must be located at least 200 metres away from polling stations in panchayats and 100 metres away in urban local bodies.

Parties are allowed to display only one banner at each booth, featuring the candidate’s name and election symbol. Any form of campaigning or canvassing within the restricted radius is strictly forbidden. The use of masks, clothing or caps bearing the name or symbol of a political party is also banned within this zone.

Voter slips distributed to electors must be printed only on plain white paper, without the candidate’s name, party name or symbol. It is also unlawful for political parties or candidates to arrange vehicles for transporting voters to polling stations.

Inside polling stations, mobile phone use is prohibited for everyone except the Election Observer, Returning Officer, security personnel, Presiding Officer, Webcasting Officer and Sectoral Officer.

Supplementary voters list sparks concerns
Meanwhile, election officials are worried that the supplementary voters list may create confusion during polling. After the final electoral roll was published at the end of October, voters were given another chance to update their details on November 4 and 5. The supplementary list—containing newly added voters—has now been distributed to polling booths.

However, both the main list and the supplementary list begin their serial numbers from 1, resulting in duplicate numbering. Officials fear this could lead to disputes, delays and overcrowding at polling stations as staff attempt to verify voter identities.