When you go out to vote Delhi, leave mobiles at home

The Election Commission has banned the use of mobile phones inside polling stations, except for officials on duty, who are expected to send reports through SMS.

When you go out to vote on April 10, leave your mobile phones behind at home.

The Election Commission of India has banned the use of mobile phones inside polling stations, except for officials on duty, who are expected to send reports through SMS.

The Delhi Electoral Office has advised voters to keep their phones at home to avoid facing any problem at polling stations.

During the Delhi Assembly elections, the electoral office had promised that it would provide special deposit counters outside polling stations for voters to keep their phones. For the Lok Sabha polls, however, it has no such plans.

“There will be no mobile deposit counters and mobile phones should be left at home or in vehicles outside,” said Ankur Garg, Chief Nodal Officer. “The reason mobile phones are not allowed inside polling stations is maintenance of law and order. Also, electioneering is not allowed at, inside or within 100 metres of polling booths,” he said.

Though mobile phones are not allowed inside polling stations, voters invariably come to cast their votes carrying their mobile phones. Though the electoral office had promised mobile deposit counters during Assembly elections, these counters were not available at most polling stations.

At many places, agents and workers of political parties had kept counters to help voters. Also, many voters keep their mobiles with their family and take turns to go inside booths to vote or leave them with their neighbours.