Mobile phones banned inside booths

Those exercising their franchise on Thursday are barred from using mobile phones inside the polling booths as per the direction of the Election Commission.

Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil said there are no arrangements either for safe deposit of mobile phones at the polling booths and it is better that they do not carry their phones.

An alternative is that they can switch off the phones while entering the booths. The direction appears to have been issued to protect the secrecy of ballot as otherwise voters may capture their voting using the mobile phones.