Maharashtra Municipal Elections Set for December 2, 2023

Elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats across Maharashtra are scheduled for December 2, 2023, with the counting of votes to occur the following day. The announcement was made by Dinesh Waghmare, the State Election Commissioner, during a press conference on Tuesday.

Waghmare stated that the final voter list will be published on November 7, following the completion of the voter registration process. Approximately 1.7 crore individuals are eligible to participate in these elections. Voting will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot units, while the use of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) will not be implemented.

Each municipal council will consist of a single-member ward, and a total of 13,355 polling stations will be established throughout the state. To ensure the smooth conduct of the election process, over 66,775 election officers and staff will be deployed.

The Election Commission has set the expenditure limit at Rs 2 lakh for candidates contesting for nagar panchayat positions and Rs 6 lakh for chairperson candidates. In an effort to enhance voter accessibility, a dedicated mobile application will be launched. This app will assist voters in locating their polling stations, verifying their names on the voter list, and accessing information about candidates.

To address potential irregularities, the Election Commission has introduced measures to ensure the integrity of voter rolls. Any duplicate voter names will be marked with a ‘double star’ symbol, and strict oversight will be maintained to facilitate fair elections. Polling staff will receive specific instructions regarding the handling of mobile phones during their duties.

All polling stations will be equipped with essential amenities such as electricity, water, and seating arrangements to enhance voter convenience. Furthermore, special ‘pink booths’ managed by female staff and police personnel will be established to encourage greater participation from women voters.

In this election cycle, Maharashtra has identified approximately 5.3 million male voters and 5.32 million female voters eligible to cast their ballots. The upcoming elections are seen as a crucial opportunity for civic engagement and local governance across the state.