A Scene at Polling Booth

India is a democracy where elections to the Lok Sabha I 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 booth is almost the same though there are much more hustle and bustle for the Lok Sabha elections.

A polling booth presents a very busy scene. There are 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 colorful 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 supervise 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 each contestant candidate also sit inside the boot to satisfy themselves about a fair poll. There are supporters of each candidate who move to an outside the booth. They have lists of voters in their hands and continually count the number of voters who think have voted in their favor. If a particular voter of theirs has not reached the polling 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 particular voters, 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 brisker in the afternoon. Sometimes, even centenarians and handicapped persons are brought to cast their votes. The people, no doubt, are enamored 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.