Bhubaneswar: Several voters in Odisha Saturday expressed strong resentment over the decision to ban carrying mobile phones inside polling booths while exercising their franchise. The CEO’s office has also banned smartwatches inside the booths.
Those carrying mobile phones said there was no prior information from the Chief Electoral Officer about the restriction on bringing mobile phones inside polling booths.
They also noted there were no proper arrangements for the safe deposit of mobile phones near the polling booths. Several voters returned home without casting their ballots because security personnel deployed at the booths did not allow them to enter with mobile phones.
Six Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly seats spread over 10 districts are going to the polls on Saturday in the third phase of elections in the state.
The CEO’s office later issued a statement clarifying that only the Presiding Officer of the polling booth is allowed to carry a mobile phone, while voters and polling agents are barred from bringing mobile phones inside the polling booths.
UNI