The Underrated Soldiers Of Democracy

In Arunachal Pradesh, Auxiliary Labour Corps bring polling booths closer to people living in remote areas, enabling them to utilize their right to vote

With a total area of 83,743 sq km, the largest State in the Northeastern region, Arunachal Pradesh will go for simultaneous polls on April 11. Given the geographical vastness and patchy distribution of its 13.84 lakh population (2011 Census), undertaking the democratic exercise is a mammoth task for the Election Commission of India due to its unique challenges.

The Labyrinthine Process

From a layman’s perspective, elections look simple enough but there is more to it than what meets the eye. A total electorate of 7,94,162 comprising 3,92,561 males and 4,01,601 females will exercise their adult franchise across 2202 polling stations. It is interesting to note that the State is among the few where women voters outnumber males. Keeping this in mind, 11 polling stations will be set up in the State exclusively for female voters.