Living in a large apartment community? ECI may set up a polling station on your premises

COIMBATORE: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is planning to set up polling stations in large apartment communities in urban areas to increase the voting percentage in the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly election, officials said.In Coimbatore, ECI officials have approached the residents’ welfare associations to identify suitable locations for the polling stations.“More than 500 to 600 voters are residing in some apartments. We are ready to set up polling stations on the ground floor of the residential areas to assist the residents in exercising their franchise. We are also planning to set up polling stations at the apartments of Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board,” said an official.In a press note issued on March 4, 2025, the ECI stated that polling stations would be established in high-rise buildings as well as slum clusters to increase voting in urban areas. ECI officials said many people residing in apartments did not turn up to exercise their franchise. Therefore, the ECI planned to set up polling stations in residential complexes.“The ECI wants to increase the polling percentage as all citizens should do their duties by casting their votes,” said an ECI official.

He added that with the help of Coimbatore city police, election department officials would collect the contact details of the apartment residential welfare association functionaries and meet them in person.“The apartment residential welfare associations won’t need to pay even a single penny for setting up the polling stations. They can just provide their space for two days to set up the polling stations. We are going to collect the voters’ details in major apartments and Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board’s apartments in Coimbatore city.

If a residential area has more than 500 votes, we would take steps to set up a polling station there,” said the official.J Sathish, director, Kongu Global Forum, said it is a welcome move by the ECI. “Everybody should exercise their franchise. Creating the facilities in the gated communities would increase the polling percentage in the upcoming assembly election.”