Salt Lake, Rajarhat, Dum Dum, Baranagar, Barasat, Barrackpore and Howrah go to the polls on the first working day of the week. Metro gives the lowdown on V-Day basics and beyond.

Poll essentials

Polling begins: 7am

Polling ends: 6pm

What should I carry to the booth?

Your voter ID. If you don't have one, carry any one of the following: 1) Passport; 2) Driving licence; 3) PAN card 4) Service identity card for employees of offices of state/ central government, public sector undertakings, local bodies or public limited companies; 5) Passbook with photograph issued by public sector bank/ post office; 6) SC/ ST/OBC certificate; 7) Pension document with photograph; 8) Health insurance scheme smart card (issued by the labour ministry); 9) Job card under rural employment guarantee scheme; 10) Authenticated photo voter slip issued by the Election Commission

All documents from 4 to 10 should have been issued on or before February 28, 2016

I am not sure my name is on the electoral rolls because I haven't received a voter slip yet...

Text your voter identity card number - the one just above the photograph - to 51969, typing WB (space) EC (space) EPIC number. An automated service will provide you the name of the polling booth and all the relevant details.

Disclaimer: Those who received their voter ID cards this year cannot avail themselves of this service as the updated data hasn't been uploaded yet. You can also call the Election Commission helpline at 1950 or log on to www. ceowestbengal.nic.in

Weather

No surprises there. The weather will be extremely hot and sultry through the day. The maximum temperature is projected to be around 39 degrees Celsius and humidity will be high, too, with the wind likely to blow from the direction of the Bay of Bengal. According to the Met office, a sprinkling of "very localised rainfall" might occur, but there is no thundershower or squall on the radar.

What's on, what's off

Shops: Shops within 100 metres of a polling booth have to be kept shut. The police can, of course, cite the possibility of an unlawful assembly and ask a shop to down shutters even if it is beyond this threshold.

Offices: Government offices will be closed for the day. Private offices within 100 metres of a polling booth can't open either. Employees of private companies residing in the constituencies where polling is scheduled are entitled to a paid day off from work.

Transport: The Metro will run as usual. Around 1800 of the 6,700 buses that ply in and around the city on a weekday will be available. There will be around 850 minibuses on the roads. At least 12,000 of the 30,000 taxis will ply. Autorickshaws might be hard to find in some areas where polling is scheduled. Local trains will stick to the usual schedule.

Bars and off shops: Shut since 6pm on Saturday and won't reopen until Tuesday. But beyond the poll zone, there are no restrictions.

Mall timings: City Centre Salt Lake will open at 6pm and City Centre New Town at 5pm. Avani Mall in Howrah will function from 11am as usual, while Diamond Plaza on Jessore Road and Axis Mall in New Town will open at 5pm.

Plexes: Carnival Cinemas, Salt Lake, will open at 5pm; PVR Diamond Plaza (Jessore Road) will open after 5pm; PVR Avani (Howrah) will stick to normal timings; INOX City Centre (Salt Lake) will open at 6pm; INOX Rajarhat will open at 5pm; INOX Liluah will open at 5pm; Bioscope at Axis Mall will open at 5pm.

Universities: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences will be closed for the day along with West Bengal State University, Barasat, and all affiliated colleges. West Bengal University of Technology in Salt Lake and its affiliate institutes in Salt Lake will be shut, too. The BT Road and Jorasanko campuses of Rabindra Bharati University will function as usual, but its distance education centres in Salt Lake are closed.

Security

Bidhannagar commissionerate: Fifty companies of central forces are being deployed in 758 polling booths spread across 333 premises. In addition to this, 2,000 police personnel will take care of law and order outside the booths. Police outposts have been set up in 65 locations across Salt Lake and its adjoining areas. These outposts comprise central forces and police teams to randomly check vehicles for arms and ammunition, liquor and cash.

In addition to this, there will be 62 quick response teams, 59 sector mobile units, 45 patrol vehicles, 24 special checkposts at night and 15 special intervention teams. Six quick response teams will be stationed in Salt Lake alone. Specialised mobile units like the heavy radio flying squads and special intervention teams will also patrol the poll zone.

Barrackpore commissionerate: The deployment includes 167 companies of central forces and 5,000 police personnel.

Howrah commissionerate: The Election Commission has sent 75 companies of central forces. The police are deploying 2,300 personnel.

Do and don't

Who should I call to report a problem?

The Election Commission: 1950

North 24-Parganas district helpline: 18003455554

North 24-Parganas police helpline: 033-25240012

Barrackpore commissionerate: 033-25930088, 033-25450048, 7679075203

Salt Lake: 033-23350054 (police helpline), 8336973500

Howrah: 18003455558, 18003455572

What should I avoid carrying to the booth?

Anything that can be used as a weapon, such as a golf club. A flag or any party symbol and more than Rs 20,000 in cash are not allowed either.

What about my mobile phone?

Switch off or keep in silent mode. According to the rule book, a phone can't be used within 100 metres of a booth.

What should I do once inside the booth?

Identify yourself and produce your identity proof. 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. Give the slip to the presiding officer, who will verify your particulars. The presiding officer will ask you to proceed to the EVM, kept in a corner with three sides covered.

How do I cast my vote?

The electronic voting machine (EVM) displays the names of all candidates for a seat along with their party symbols. Next to each name and symbol there is a blue button and a red light. You need to press the blue button against the name and symbol of your choice. The red light will glow and the machine will beep, indicating a valid vote. Inform the presiding officer and press again if the light doesn't glow or you don't hear the beep.

I don't want to vote for anyone...

Press the NOTA (none of the above) button on the EVM.

Can I drive down to the polling booth?

Yes, but the vehicle has to be parked at least 200 metres away from the booth.

Can I go to vote with a group of friends?

Unnecessary assembly of people is banned within 100 metres of a booth. The police might quiz you if you are seen hanging around in a group of four or more.

What happens if all members of my family go together?

Carry individual identity cards and make sure you don't cause a commotion.

What about kids?

Take along a child only if he/she is young enough to be carried in someone's arms. Anyone older must wait outside the booth while you vote.

Can someone accompany a person with disability to a booth?

A blind or visually impaired person can use help to cast a vote. Those with other disabilities and the elderly can be escorted till the booth, but not into the EVM chamber.