- Polling starts at: 7am
- Polling ends at: 6pm, though anyone who queues up before the deadline will be allowed to vote
What should I carry to the booth?
Your voter ID. If you don’t have one, carry one of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- PAN card
- Service identity card for employees of offices of state/central government, public sector undertakings, local bodies or public limited companies
- Passbook with photograph issued by public sector bank/post office
- SC/ST/OBC certificate
- Pension documents with photograph
- Freedom fighter’s card
- Arms licence
- Certificate of physical disability
- Health insurance scheme smart card issued by the Union labour ministry
- Property documents such as a patta or a registered deed, with photograph
- Job card under the Centre’s rural employment guarantee scheme
What I can’t carry to the booth?
Any object that can be used as a weapon, such as a cricket bat or a pen knife. A flag or any party symbol. A large amount of cash, the purpose or the source of which can’t be explained
What about mobile phones?
It must be switched off or kept in silent mode. Use of mobile is not allowed inside the booth
Can I vote without the voter slip?
Yes. All you need to carry is one of the documents mentioned above. It isn’t mandatory to carry a voter slip, even if you have one
What to do if I have not received a voter slip and I am not sure if my name is on the electoral rolls?
You can call the EC helpline at 1950 or log onto `www.ceowestbengal.nic.in`
What will the weather be like?
Expect extremely hot and humid conditions with the maximum temperature likely to be around 38 degrees Celsius in Calcutta. Heat wave conditions have been predicted for the western districts of south Bengal. There is a chance of a thundershower in the second half, the Met office said
What to do once inside the booth?
Identify yourself and produce your voter card or any of the other valid documents. You will be asked to sign the voting register.
An official will put the indelible ink on your index finger and hand over a slip containing your serial number. Hand the slip to the presiding officer, who will verify your particulars. The presiding officer will ask you to proceed to the EVM, placed in an enclosure with three sides covered
How do I cast my vote?
The EVM displays the names of all the candidates for the seat along with their party symbols. Next to each name and symbol there is a blue button and a red light. The last option on the EVM will be “None of the above (NOTA)”. You have to press the blue button against the name and symbol of your choice. A red light will glow and the machine will beep, indicating a valid vote. The glow and beep are mandatory for the vote to be recorded
What’s all the noise about VVPATs?
The voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) is attached to the EVM, allowing you to verify that the vote is cast as intended. When a vote is cast, a slip is printed on the VVPAT printer containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate voted for. The slip is visible to you for seven seconds. The printed slip then falls into a sealed drop box. These printouts can later be counted, if needed. Go to the presiding officer in case of any problem
Will my vote be cancelled if I accidentally press the button twice?
No, the first one will be counted
Who to approach in case of any problem?
The presiding officer
Who to call to report a problem?
- Election Commission: 1950
- Calcutta Police: 100
- Control Room (Lalbazar): 22143230, 22141310
