This Article is From May 07, 2014

Elections 2014: FAQs on Who Can Be Inside a Polling Booth and Who Can't

As Amethi votes, allegations and counter-allegations by the top contenders have sparked a big debate on who is allowed inside a polling booth and who is not.

The BJP's Smriti Irani complained against the presence of Preeti Sahay, the political secretary of  Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ms Sahay has been asked to leave Amethi. Priyanka is the younger sister of sitting MP and Congress number 2 Rahul Gandhi.  (After Smriti Irani's Complaint, Priyanka Aide Asked to Leave Amethi)

Election Commission rules stipulate that political functionaries and party workers, etc. who have been brought from outside the constituency and who are not voters of that constituency, are required to leave it as soon as campaigning ends. This does not include a candidate if he is a voter outside but is contesting in the constituency.

The Aam Aadmi Party has tweeted a picture of Mr Gandhi in a polling booth and asked how he has been allowed to talk to and interact with voters there.


Here is what the Election Commission says on the matter in a handbook for presiding officers.

Those who can enter the polling booth:

  1. Electors
  2. Polling Officers.
  3. Each candidate, his election agent and a duly appointed polling  agent of each candidate, one at a time.
  4. Media persons authorised by the Commission.
  5. Public servants on duty in connection with the election.
  6. Observers appointed by the Commission.
  7. Micro observers, Videographers/ photographers/ staff for webcasting in the case of a critical/sensitive polling station
  8. A child in arms of or accompanying an elector.
  9. A person accompanying a visually impaired or an infirm voter who cannot move without help.
  10. A person who might be admitted from time to time by the presiding officer for the purpose of  identifying voters or otherwise assisting them in the poll process.

Those who can't enter the polling booth:

  1. Police officers, whether in uniform or in plain clothes, should not, as a general rule, be allowed to enter inside the polling booth, unless they are called in to maintain law and order or some similar purpose.
  2. Security personnel accompanying an elector or candidate or his election agent or polling agent should also not be allowed to enter the polling
  3. station except the security personnel for a Z+ protectee. In that case a single  plainsclothed security personnel with concealed arms is allowed.
  4. Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Centre or states. According to the latest instructions of the commission, they cannot be allowed to be appointed even as polling agents, as they have security guards who cannot be allowed entry into the polling station.
  5. Only three or four electors should be allowed to enter the polling station at a time, says the commission. No one inside the polling station should be allowed to influence or try to influence the voters by words or gestures to vote in a particular way.
(Information courtesy: Election Commission of India)

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