Can you vote in your housing society in Pune? Find out here

The initiative to set up polling stations at cooperative housing societies was taken up during the Lok Sabha elections with the aim of addressing voter apathy

At the Pune District Cooperative Housing Society and Apartment Federation too, authorities said that they have been actively involved in the election process. (Express Photo)

With less than ten days until the assembly elections on November 20, district election officials are conducting a second round of training as at least 60 cooperative housing societies have been permitted to set up a total of 126 polling stations.

The initiative to set up polling stations at cooperative housing societies was taken up during the Lok Sabha elections with the aim of addressing voter apathy. This will be the first time that polling stations are being set up at cooperative housing societies during the assembly elections and according to a senior official, was akin to setting up a temporary police station.

“We have conducted an initial training round as some of the polling stations have been moved to the housing society locations. This initiative will enable at least 1.5 lakh voters to exercise their franchise at the housing society locations,” the official said.

Hsg Society Polling Stations by Express Web on Scribd

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At the Pune District Cooperative Housing Society and Apartment Federation too, authorities said that they have been actively involved in the election process. Suhas Patwardhan, chairman of Pune district and Maharashtra Cooperative housing society and the apartment federation, said that they have been involved in the exercise by assisting district election commission officials with updating voter lists and now encouraging residents to vote.

“There will be selfie points and since November 20 has been declared a holiday, we are also involved in awareness activities like encouraging residents to first vote and then step out for any outing,” Patwardhan said. The Election Commission has encouraged polling stations at housing societies and according to an official, the exercise had seen a fair response during the Lok Sabha elections.

The main aim is also to encourage voter turnout and awareness activities are being stepped up under the EC’s flagship programme Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP),

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Maharshtra Assembly