Jubilee Hills bye-election polling arrangements completed across 407 stations: GHMC Commissioner
Hyderabad: GHMC Commissioner and District Election Officer R.V. Karnan announced that all polling arrangements were complete for the Jubilee Hills Assembly Constituency bye-election. He said 407 polling stations had been readied for smooth and transparent voting.
Addressing reporters at the GHMC headquarters, along with Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of Police Tafseer Iqbal, Mr Karnan stated that the nomination process concluded on Friday. A total of 59 candidates, including the NOTA option, will contest this bye-election. Because the list of candidates is long, each Electronic Voting Machine will use four Ballot Units. Therefore, the voting compartments will be larger than usual.
Jubilee Hills bye-election polling arrangements and staffing
Mr Karnan explained that only authorised persons — voters, polling staff, agents, and security personnel — can enter a polling booth. The Presiding Officer will supervise every activity. He reminded citizens that the Voter Information Slip (VIS) serves only as a locator and not as an identity card. Consequently, every voter must carry one of the 12 ECI-approved photo IDs to cast a vote.
To ensure efficient management, the DEO will deploy 600 Presiding Officers, 600 Assistant Presiding Officers, and 1,200 Polling Officers. Meanwhile, intensive SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) campaigns are under way to raise awareness and encourage voter turnout. In addition, special queue lines for women and transport for persons with disability will be arranged to improve accessibility.
To enforce the Model Code of Conduct, the administration has activated 15 Static Surveillance Teams and 15 Flying Squads. So far, officials have seized assets worth ₹2.83 crore that were moved in violation of election rules and have registered 11 cases. Moreover, social media activity remains under continuous watch to prevent misinformation. Authorities will act firmly against anyone spreading false or misleading content.
New ECI initiatives for voter convenience
Mr Karnan outlined several new initiatives from the Election Commission of India aimed at improving voter experience. Colour photographs of candidates will now appear on the ballot papers attached to the Ballot Units, making identification easier. Furthermore, each polling station will feature a Voter Assistance Booth and a Mobile Deposit Counter. The new Voter Information Slip design will include bold serial and part numbers to enhance readability.
Distribution of voter slips and security readiness
He stated that only Booth Level Officers are authorised to distribute Voter Information Slips. Printing has concluded, and distribution will begin tomorrow. Any unauthorised person attempting to distribute the slips will face action.
Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner of Police Tafseer Iqbal assured that the police are fully prepared to conduct free, fair, and peaceful polling. Paramilitary forces will guard all critical polling stations to maintain security and voter confidence.