PNS | DEHRADUN
The strict implementation of the ban on mobile phones inside many polling stations left several voters, especially those who came alone, facing inconvenience on Thursday. At various polling booths across the city, voters were left frustrated as they struggled to find secure arrangements for their phones before casting their votes. A first-time voter Rajni Sharma (21) who came alone to a polling station in Adhoiwala said, “I did not know phones were not allowed. With no one to hand my phone to, the police officers also refused to keep it. Finally, I entrusted it to a woman who had already voted but it felt unsafe leaving my property with a stranger.” Another voter, Kirti Mawal, shared her experience of holding phones for four strangers outside the polling station. “I didn’t even know them, but everyone was in trouble, so I helped. There should have been designated booths to store phones for the convenience of voters,” she said. The ban also caused delays for many voters, with some returning home to drop off their phones, while others relied on the goodwill of strangers. Deepak Thapa, who attempted to vote during his lunch break, said, “I had to wait an extra 15 minutes to find someone willing to hold my phone. Some people left without voting because they did not want to entrust their phones to strangers. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the officials deployed at the polling station took our phone and returned it after we voted. If this was not allowed this time, temporary lockers or secure alternatives should have been provided to voters.” The issue also led to crowding outside many polling stations, as relatives and acquaintances held phones while voters went inside to cast their ballots. Mohan Singh, who waited outside a Raipur Road polling station with his child, said, “I was holding my toddler and went to cast my vote once my wife finished and could take care of our child and hold my phone.” While some police officers refused to hold phones, fearing confusion and additional responsibility, there were reports of officials at certain booths assisting voters by holding their devices temporarily. However, the lack of a standardised solution left many voicing the need for designated phone storage facilities at polling stations. Many opined that mobile phone ban, though aimed at ensuring fair and secure voting, has highlighted the need for better logistical arrangements to prevent voter inconvenience in future elections. However, many also opined that leaving mobiles phones at home is not a big deal and some people are just too attached to their phones. “How hard is it to leave your phone in your home for a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes? It is not just young adults but older people also act similarly,” senior citizen Tej Singh Gusain said.
