Polling is set for Thursday for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with vote counting on Friday. Originally planned for 2,869 seats, 68 candidates have won uncontested, reducing the contested seats to 2,801. The list includes cities like Nagpur, Pune, Thane, Nashik, and Navi Mumbai, with two new civic bodies – Jalna and Ichalkaranji.
A unique voting system will be used across regions, with Mumbai (BMC) following a single-member ward system while the other 28 corporations using a multi-member ward system. The state is preparing for 3.48 crore eligible voters, with 39,147 polling stations, 43,958 Control Units, and 87,916 Ballot Units. Mumbai alone will have 10,111 polling stations with 11,349 Control Units and 22,698 Ballot Units.
To ensure fair elections, the State Election Commission has identified potential duplicate names in ward-wise lists with double asterisks (**), verifying them through door-to-door checks. Voters with marked names must provide an indemnity bond and valid ID if not pre-verified. The SEC has introduced a mobile app on Google Play Store for voters to find their details using their name or EPIC number.
Special arrangements are in place for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and mothers with infants, including ramps, wheelchairs, and “Pink Booths” in areas with high female voter turnout. Mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside polling booths to maintain secrecy and prevent disputes.
