A total of 9.63 crore voters, with 4.97 crore males and 4.66 crore females, would be exercising their franchise in the biggest festival of democracy to cast their votes in elections to the 288 Assembly constituencies, scheduled for November 20.
The polling in the state will be held in a single phase on November 20 at 1,00,186 polling stations spread at 52,789 locations and the counting would take place on November 23.
Making the announcement of the poll schedule for ECI, the term of the present Maharashtra Legislative Assembly comes to an end on November 26.
Out of 1,00,186 polling stations, 42,604 will be from the urban pocket and 57,582 from the rural pockets while the average voter per polling station is likely to be 960.
The ECI has expressed dismay over voters' apathy during polling terming it as 'a democratic deficit in the making'.
ECI's stance is crucial as there are 18 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra comprising of six from Thane, Mumbai City 4, Mumbai Suburbs 2, Pune 5 and Raigad 1, which have witnessed below 50 per cent voter turnout in Lok Sabha polls.
In the 2019 assembly elections, 62 of 64 urban assembly constituencies recorded less than the state average of 60.56 per cent voting. Among them, the Colaba assembly constituency with its mixed populace residing in high-rise buildings, slums and chawls had recorded a paltry 40.1 per cent voting, while in rural assembly constituencies, Jalgaon recorded 45.4 per cent, Bhusawal 48.9 per cent and Nallasopara 51.8 per cent.
It had asked the state Chief Electoral officer to ensure that all measures that would boost the voter turnout be put in place for the assembly election.
And in a press conference held during the period, the CEC Rajiv Kumar announced that the ECI has issued stern instructions to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Commissioner to make all possible efforts that should increase the voter turnout in Greater Mumbai that comprises 36 constituencies.
Considering past experience, we have been asked to keep chairs and benches at a short distance at the polling stations so that in the event of a queue before polling booths, the elderly people can sit inside the queue. This would be implemented in the city on the polling day, he added.
Candidates with a criminal background will have to produce the background three times in the newspaper, the CEC added.
"When we conducted meetings in Maharashtra, we clearly gave orders on this issue to the state chief electoral officer and other officials," he added.
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