Maharashtra civic polls: How new 4-member panel system baffled voters - ‘It was like playing tabla’

• MMR civic polls saw confusion due to new four-member panel voting system
• Voters experienced delays, tech issues, and required extra help at polling stations.
• Ulhasnagar voters adapted better, having used the system in previous elections

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A new electoral mechanism designed for civic body elections in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) left a trail of confusion and procedural hiccups on polling day, with many voters struggling to adapt to a complex multi-panel voting system.

In place of the traditional single-member ward, the Election Commission implemented a four-member panel system across municipal corporation elections in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Ulhasnagar. Each panel encompassed four wards, requiring voters to individually select a candidate for each of the four seats, rather than casting a single vote, TOI reported.

Despite awareness campaigns by the Commission and political parties and the presence of pictorial guides outside polling stations, significant on-ground confusion was reported. The unfamiliar process led to delays, voter frustration and technical uncertainties, particularly affecting the elderly and first-time voters.

Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli: Delays and uncertainty



In Thane, where the system was being used for the first time in nearly nine years, polling officials at centres in Owale, Kokanipada, Kalwa and Rabodi were frequently seen explaining the process anew to each voter. Many, like Gangu Garje from Ghodbunder, initially believed only one button needed to be pressed. Voters also sought clarification on whether they had to select the same party or NOTA option across all four panels.

A zonal officer from Ghodbunder was cited by TOI as saying that the confusion, primarily from senior citizens, caused minor delays. The impact was reportedly absorbed due to a lower voter load per booth, but the official noted the process took significantly longer, with some voters spending over a minute scanning candidate lists instead of a few seconds.

Similar complexities plagued the Kalyan-Dombivli polls. Voters were reportedly hesitant when they did not hear the customary confirmation beep after pressing a button, requiring intervention from polling staff to guide them through voting separately on the four different EVM units within their panel.

Navi Mumbai: Technical glitches compound confusion



The confusion in Navi Mumbai was compounded by apparent technical faults. At a polling station in the Yashwantrao Chavan Chowk area, the button for independent candidate Vaishali Walunjkar was said to have malfunctioned, leading to frustration among voters.

The issue was reportedly echoed by activist BN Kumar at a polling booth in Kopar Khairane. Kumar recounted that one button on the voting machine simply did not work, a fact a polling official had initially warned him about. He described the experience as awkward and comical, likening his attempt to press the unresponsive buttons to playing the tabla.

Ulhasnagar: A familiar exception



In contrast, Ulhasnagar presented a smoother picture, as reported by TOI. Voters there were not entirely new to the system, a similar method having been used in the 2017 civic polls.

Consequently, a comparatively higher level of awareness was observed, with many residents voting confidently without requiring extensive guidance.