NN Online:
The Election Commission (EC) has projected around 45,098 polling centres for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections, with an additional 2,950 centres under consideration.
The figure was disclosed at a meeting on Tuesday (August 12) focused on preparing polling officer panels and organising training programmes.
In the 12th parliamentary elections, there were 11,96,89,289 registered voters, 42,148 polling centres, and 2,61,564 polling booths. After updating the electoral roll for 2025—which now includes voters born on or before January 1, 2008—the EC estimates 12,78,73,752 eligible voters.
To handle the increase, polling booths may rise to 2,80,564, with about 19,000 more booths planned. The EC said 8,86,790 polling officers will be needed, and a 10% expansion of the officer panel has already been made.
An additional 5% workforce will be kept in reserve, bringing the total number of polling officials to about 9,31,131—up 5% from the last election—all of whom will receive training ahead of the vote.
