In Gujarat, A Polling Booth For Just One Voter. Here's Why

To ensure universal participation in the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Election Commission Of India has set up a polling booth for only one voter, Mahant Haridasji Udasin in Banej in the dense jungles of Gir in the first phase of voting today.

The poll body has made several efforts for outreach so that no voter is left out. In a series of tweets, the Election Commission posted pictures showing how they are facilitating senior citizen and disabled voters, and reaching areas where access is tricky.

One of the tweets shows voters in Shiyalbet village in Amreli district, which is surrounded by the Arabian Sea, and is reachable only by boat. Five polling stations have been set up on the island, it said.

Another picture shows 104 year voter Ramji Bhai, who voted at the polling station instead of opting for postal ballot.

One of the polling booths offered medical checkup. "India's first health booth in Junagadh district," the poll body said.

One of the pictures showed blind voters posing at a polling station in the Surendra Nagar district.

According to the Election Commission, there are 5,74,560 voters who are between 18 and 19 years of age while 4,945 voters are above 99 years of age. There are 163 NRI voters, of which 125 are men and 38 are women.

There are 14,382 voting centres, out of which 3,311 are in the urban areas and 11,071 in the rural areas.

The second phase of the Gujarat Assembly election is on December 5, votes will be counted on December 8.