SIR Update: The Election Commission has approved a proposal to reorganise polling stations across all 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh as part of preparations for the upcoming electoral process. Following the restructuring, the total number of polling stations in the state has been reduced from 1,77,516 to 1,73,730, marking a decrease of 3,786 booths. The exercise has been completed across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Chief Electoral Officer Dr Navdeep Rinwa said the restructuring was carried out in accordance with the prescribed limit of 1,200 voters per polling station. Proposals received from district authorities were forwarded to the Election Commission for approval. The draft electoral rolls will now be published on the basis of the newly approved polling stations.

Family Members to Be Listed Under the Same Polling Booth
The Chief Electoral Officer has directed all District Election Officers to ensure the appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the newly approved polling stations. Voters whose polling stations have been changed will receive written information about the changes through their respective BLOs. BLO supervisors will regularly monitor the process, while Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers will verify the arrangements to ensure that the restructuring is implemented properly. The objective is to make the voting process more convenient and prevent confusion among voters ahead of the elections.

Special Instructions to Keep Family Members Together in Voter Lists
Election officials have also been instructed to ensure that the names of all eligible members of a family are recorded in the same part of the electoral roll. This measure is intended to prevent situations in which members of the same household are assigned to different polling booths. If family members are found listed under separate polling stations after publication of the draft electoral roll, corrections can be requested through Form 8, following the prescribed procedure. Voters will be able to approach the concerned election officials to get the necessary corrections made to their electoral details.

Political Parties to Receive Lists of Approved Polling Stations
The Election Commission has also directed authorities to provide the list of all approved polling stations to representatives of recognised political parties. District administrations have been asked to ensure widespread publicity so that voters are informed about their new or revised polling stations well in advance. Political party representatives will also be able to review the updated booth arrangements and communicate relevant information to voters. The move is expected to improve coordination between election officials, political parties and the electorate.

New Booth Arrangement Aims to Make Voting More Convenient
The restructuring of polling stations is an important step in preparing the electoral system for the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh. By reorganising booths according to the prescribed voter limit and ensuring proper deployment of BLOs, authorities aim to make voter identification and polling arrangements more systematic. Special attention is also being given to keeping family members together in the electoral rolls. Voters are advised to check their names and polling station details when the draft electoral roll is published. Any errors or discrepancies should be reported through the prescribed correction process to avoid difficulties on polling day.