Presiding officers and polling personnel have been directed not to share their phone numbers with unknown individuals or accept any help or gifts from anyone, as part of instructions issued by the Election Commission to district election officers (DEOs).

In a recent notification, the EC outlined a set of guidelines and duties for presiding officers, sector officers and polling teams, stating that “any non-compliance of these instructions or other instructions of the ECI, may invite strict disciplinary action”.

DEOs have been asked to distribute printed copies of the instructions — in Bengali and English — to sector officers, returning officers and presiding officers at least five days before polling, and to submit a compliance report.

“Some of the instructions were framed based on feedback from polling personnel and ground reports from previous elections in Bengal,” a senior EC official said.

“Lapses such as allowing local residents to enter polling stations before the elections, or permitting polling agents to frequently leave and re-enter booths, have been categorised as ‘punishable crimes’.”

Central forces have been instructed that only individuals with valid entry cards will be allowed to enter the premises a day before polling, and presiding officers have been tasked with ensuring that no unauthorised persons gain entry.

Polling teams have been directed to “conduct a walkthrough of polling premises” along with central forces. This includes deciding the 100-metre perimeter, locations for Voter Assistance Booths, planning voter queue alignment and locations for jawans. “They must check the room where voting will occur for any unauthorised electronic devices...,” the notification states.

Other responsibilities:

• Presiding officers must ensure that adequate power points are available for installing webcams inside polling stations and that cameras are properly positioned both inside and outside the premises.
• In case of any violation, presiding officers should immediately call in central forces inside the booth if required. If the situation is not resolved, the returning officer must be alerted.
• Polling personnel and central forces are only to have meals arranged by the district administration or returning officer and are prohibited from accepting food or drinks from local shops or residents.
• Polling teams must be prepared by 4.45am on the day of voting. Entry of polling agents is permitted only after verification of identity cards.
• Mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside polling booths. No polling agent or voter is allowed to carry a phone inside, and violators may be removed with the help of central force personnel.
• Polling agents are not permitted to consume anything other than water inside the booth.