Smooth polling: Officials make it easy for voters

Jayanti, 65, was overawed by the help and care extended by the force deployed at her polling station — Kasturba Inter College, Hewett Road — where she went to cast her vote on Sunday. .

Jayanti, 65, was overawed by the help and care extended by the force deployed at her polling station — Kasturba Inter College, Hewett Road — where she went to cast her vote on Sunday. .

Voters-display-their-identity-cards-as-they-wait-to-cast-their-votes-at-a-polling-station-during-the-4th-phase-of-Uttar-Pradesh-assembly-elections-in-Pratapgarh-PTI-Photo

An arthritis patient, she was helped by the central force to reach her booth through a makeshift ramp. The polling officers were equally helpful, she said. “They understood my problem that I will not be able to stand in long queue, so they helped me cast my vote before many others,” said Jayanti.

Polling went off smoothly in the state capital on Sunday and voters had a hassle-free experience at polling stations. Right from the polling officers to the security personnel, everybody was receptive to voters and helped them in casting their vote easily. Polling agents too were courteous enough to extend their helping hand to all those who approached them.

A small piece of paper — the voting slip issued by the election commission — made a big difference. The voters knew well in advance exactly where their polling booth was. The slip saved time of the voters and the polling officers. Hence, there were no long queues at polling stations.

Despite the fact that over 50% Lucknowites turned out on the polling day, the sight of voters and polling officers quarrelling with each other could not be seen. Sudhir Halwasiya, a businessman, said: “Casting vote was never that easy as it was this year. The line moved so quickly and hence there were no long queues.”