A Scene at a Polling Booth
India is a democracy where
elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years. Besides, there are
elections for the state assemblies and municipal bodies. In all cases, the election
scene at a polling both is almost the same, though there is much more hustle
and bustle for the Lok Sabha elections.
A polling booth presents a very
busy scene. There is hustle and excitement. At a little distance from the
polling booth, there are tents of the contestant parties with names and
election signs of the candidates written on colourful banners. Although
canvassing on the day of polling is prohibited by law, yet it continues in low
whispers.
The chief official at the polling
booth is the Presiding Officer. It is his duty to super-vise the overall
arrangements and to ensure that the polling is held smoothly and fairly. One or
more police constables are there to help him in maintaining law and order
inside and outside the booth. There are two or three polling officers to help
the presiding officer (or Returning Officer) in conducting the polls. One or
more agents of each contestant candidate also sit inside the booth to satisfy
themselves about a fair poll. There are also supporters of each candidate who
move to and fro outside the booth. They have lists of voters in their hands and
continually count the number of voters who they think have voted in their
favour. If a particular voter of theirs has not reached the poling booth till
late in the afternoon, they may rush to his house and fetch him in their own
transport, thus violating the Election Law.
However, the man who matters most
on the polling day, at least ostensibly, is the voter. The candidates, their
agents and supporters bow to him, exchange smiles and pleasantries with him.
They regale him with refreshments even, if he so feels inclined, and in the
case of voters in particular, bribery may be the rule. Hard drinks may also be
offered to certain desirous voters. To cap it all, sometimes, there are fake
voters sent by the candidates. In some cases, even "dead men" have
been said to have cast their votes.
The polling begins in the morning
and ends at 4.00 or 5.00 p.m. It is more-brisk in the afternoon. Sometimes,
even centenarians and handicapped persons come to cast their votes. The people,
no doubt, are enamoured of this democratic process. Only the corrupt, power
hungry political leaders play havoc with it. At the end the presiding officer
gets the ballot boxes sealed which are then sent to a "central place"
under police escort.
0 Comments