Voters who cast their votes at polling booths at Syed Murthuza Higher Secondary School and Marakkadai Overhead Tank complex in the city were in for pleasant surprise as they walked into brightly decorated and well organised rather than barricaded and dingy rooms which they were used to seeing in every election.
In an attempt to provide a better ambience to the electorate during the brief time that they spent in choosing their legislators, the Election Commission set up model polling booths in every Assembly segment in each Parliamentary constituency.
Apart from looking tidy and organised, the model polling booths were complete with waiting area with chairs and fans for the voters (with separate space earmarked for persons with disabilities), a play area for children accompanying the voters, and even a first aid corner.
“It was nice to see such facilities, especially chairs with a fan nearby. It would be good if all polling booths were similarly people friendly,” said Basheer, a voter.
According to official sources, 37 such model polling booths had been set up in the nine assembly segments in Tiruchi district. On an average, four such booths were set up in each Assembly segment. The Tiruchi Corporation had set up 11 such booths in its limits, an official said.
