The election bandwagon finally rolls into town on Thursday with seven constituencies of north and central Calcutta going to the polls: Chowringhee, Entally, Beleghata, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Maniktala and Kashipur-Belgachhia. Metro presents a poll primer for you to have a hassle-free V-Day.

 

Polling begins: 7am

Polling ends: 6pm

What if I reach my booth at 6.01pm?

The police won't allow anyone to join the queue after 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

 

Metro tip: Also arm yourself with an umbrella or a hat and drinking water if you have to queue up for your turn.

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 EC helpline at 1950 or log on to www.ceowestbengal.nic.in

Transport

The Metro will run as usual, but buses and taxis could be hard to find.

Around 2,700 of the 6,700 buses that ply in Calcutta on a weekday would be available. The rest have been requisitioned for the polls. The number of taxis on the road could be half the fleet strength of 30,000-odd vehicles. The shortage is likely to be pronounced in the morning.

App-cab companies Uber and Ola have asked their drivers to be prepared for a spike in demand in polling areas. Local trains will run as usual.

Weather

Thursday will be sweaty and "extremely uncomfortable". The maximum temperature is projected to nudge 40 degrees Celsius, albeit without any drop in humidity that usually corresponds with such a rise in temperature. Rain and/or thundershowers have been ruled out. Beware the heat between noon and 3pm.

Security

Sixty-one companies of central forces, which work out to about 6,000 personnel, will be deployed in the city for Thursday's election. The police will manage queues at the 1,859 polling booths, but only central forces are allowed inside.

After polling ends, 10 companies of central forces will stay back. One of these units will guard the EVMs while the rest will be deployed outside.

A joint control room at the police training school has been set up for police and central forces.

The poll deployment plan includes 67 mobile patrol vehicles and 56 more carrying response teams working in two shifts. Besides, there will be 29 quick-reaction teams, 30 heavy radio flying squads, 45 special intervention teams and 5 riverine patrol squads.

Open and shut

Watering holes: Bars and off shops in the seven constituencies have been shut since 6pm on Tuesday and won't reopen until Friday morning. Tuesday was a dry day because of Mahavir Jayanti.

If you must, go looking for a tipple in any of the areas where polling isn't scheduled for Thursday.

Shopping: New Market will be open throughout Thursday and Mani Square from 4pm.

Plexes: INOX Swabhumi will open at 7pm and PVR-Cinemax at Mani Square will open at 5pm. Star Theatre in Hatibagan will be closed for the day but INOX Hind (on Ganesh Chandra Avenue) will be open throughout.

Civic office: The headquarters of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation on SN Banerjee Road won't function on V-Day.

Universities: Presidency University will be closed for the day along with the Calcutta University campuses on College Street, Rajabazar and the economics department near Chiria More.

-OVERMATTER-

Do and don't

What should I avoid carrying to the booth?

Any object 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.

What about my mobile phone?

Switched 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 the seat along with their party symbols. Next to each name and symbol there is a blue button and a red light.

You have 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. The glow and the beep are a must for the vote to be recorded. Tell the presiding officer and press again if the light doesn't glow or if you don't hear the beep.

Will a vote be cancelled if someone presses the button twice by mistake?

Only the first recorded vote counts. The presiding officer has a ballot button that activates the EVM before each voter enters the counter.

Can I cast a no-vote?

Press the NOTA button on the EVM

Who do I go to if I have a query?

The presiding officer.

Who do I call to report a problem?

Election Commission: 1950

Calcutta Police: 100/ 033-22142121

How soon will the cops react to a complaint, if I have one?

The police have promised an adequate response within three minutes of a distress call for any law and order breach.

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 don't make noise.

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.

If I want to have my name removed from the voters' list now, can it be done?

Too late to do so. You could have done it during the rolls revision process, usually held round the year but suspended weeks before elections are scheduled.