In a fresh decree, the Election Commission (EC) stretched out the voting window by a span of two hours across select assembly sections within four parliamentary regions of Bihar, aiming to bolster voter engagement amidst a sweltering heatwave.
As per an official notice, the original voting window for Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria, and Munger Lok Sabha districts spanned from 7 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. However, following a plea from the principal electoral officer of Bihar, suggesting an extension of the polling duration within these areas due to the ongoing heatwave, and after consultations with political factions and other invested parties “with the aim to amplify voter involvement,” the EC has opted to modify the voting hours in these precincts, the notice articulated.
The election authority has thus lengthened the voting hours by a couple of hours, extending them from 7 in the morning to 6 in the evening, across certain polling stations within the distinct assembly segments of these Lok Sabha districts. Meanwhile, the voting hours in other polling stations within these constituencies remain set from 7 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.
Varied assembly seats or segments make up parliamentary districts based on a state’s dimensions and populace. While the typical voting hours span from 7 in the morning to 6 in the evening, they undergo modifications contingent on factors such as topography, sunset timing, and security conditions. Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria, and Munger proceed with their voting phases separately.