The administration is experimenting with voting booths in order to make them more welcoming to voters. Each constituency in the state will have at least one eco-friendly booth this election. Many others will provide health screenings for voters and their pets, while others will highlight the district’s history.
Dhaval Patel, Collector of Ahmedabad, stated that eco-friendly polling booths will be located in schools that have solar panels. Such booths will also practise waste separation and will not use plastic.
Shweta Teotia, Narmada collector, stated that the booths will also include Warli art because it is in a tribal belt. She stated that the booths will have Asopalav Toran, a decorative leaf hanging. “No plastic bottles will be used and instead they will have mud glasses and matkas. Dustbins will be made of bamboo and the booth will have a bamboo roof too,” said Teotia.
Chotaudepur Collector, Stuti Charan stated that the district’s endemic flying squirrel has been adopted as the mascot to raise voter awareness. Chotaudepur will also have a heritage booth, and the Sankheda constituency will have a booth with teak furniture because the area is known for it. It will also feature terracotta paintings, which are a regional specialty.
Junagadh will have health and animal booths, first for India, said Junagadh Collector, Rachit Raj. He added that the health booths will also offer free health screenings and treatment to voters in rural areas. “We will tie up with medical teams to provide such facilities for voters.”
“We will tie up with a team of veterinary doctors and one booth in each assembly will provide this facility in rural areas,” said Raj.
“Every material used will be biodegradable. Voters can bring plastic waste from their home and deposit it to the polling booth. Coir mats will be used and green saplings will be provided to the voters. Objective is a plastic free environment and to boost voter turnout,” he added.