The traditional ethnic polling booths to highlight the indigenous tradition and culture have been set up in Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur, Bantwal and Mangaluru taluks.
Under the direction of Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officer Hemalatha, the ethnic polling booths will expose visitors to the unique tribal art and culture.
The ethnic booths are at Kanyana Zilla Panchayat Government Model Upgraded Higher Primary School, the Government Higher Primary School at Ujrupade Balnad in Puttur, Sri Ramakrishna Aided Higher Primary School at Baddadka in Sullia, Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha Swamy Aided Higher Primary School at Belthangady and Central Model Residential School, Madya, in Surathkal.
The booths have been decked with colourful buntings to attract tribals and others to the polling stations.
Sakhi booths
The district will have 20 Sakhi polling booths to ensure maximum participation of women in the election process. The all-women manned booths aim at creating a friendly atmosphere where women will feel safe along with a feeling that they have been given priority, said an officer.
The Sakhi polling booths are decked-up with blue, white and purple balloons. In addition, a selfie corner had been arranged outside the polling booth.
The Sakhi booths had been identified at the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Model Higher Primary School, Belthangady; Moodbidri Panchayat office; Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Fisheries Higher Primary School, Chitrapura; Vidyadayini English Medium School, Surathkal; Dakshina Kannada Zilla Higher Primary School, Panambur; Women’s Polytechnic, Bondel; KREC Higher Primary School, Srinivas Nagara, Surathkal; Ladyhill Higher Primary School; University College, Hampankatta; St Joseph Higher Primary School, Kankanady; St Agnes Higher Primary School, Bendoor; Government Women’s College, Car Street; Bhagavathi Higher Primary School, Ucchila – Someshwara; Vishwamangala Higher Primary School, Konaje; Holy Angel Higher Primary School, Permannur; Kotekar Town Panchayat office; Stella Mary’s Higher Primary School, Someshwara; Bantwal Higher Primary School, Loretto; ST Residential School, Kuddupadavu; and Model Higher Primary School, Kadaba.
Disabled-friendly
Three persons with disabilities (PWD) friendly polling booths have been set up at Mangaluru, Belthangady and Puttur taluks. All the three polling booths will be managed by differently abled officers.
According to Dr Selvamani, Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer, the physically challenged voters need not wait in queues to exercise their franchise. “The district has 10,911 PWD voters. Keeping in mind the interests of differently abled voters, the authorities have made vehicle arrangements to transport them to 1,104 polling booths in the district,” said the officer.
“The PWD-friendly booths are at the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School, Upparapalke; the Dakshina Kannada Higher Primary School, Kutharpadavu; and the Dakshina Kannada Higher Primary School, Nekkiladi,” said Dr Selvamani.
The CEO also said that all the visually impaired voters will be given magnifying glasses and a ballot in Braille script.