India’s polling officers on the go

Published April 10, 2014
A polling officer shows the features of an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to polling agents at a training centre ahead of the second phase of the general election in the northern Indian city of Allahabad April 9, 2014.— Photo by Reuters.
A polling officer shows the features of an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to polling agents at a training centre ahead of the second phase of the general election in the northern Indian city of Allahabad April 9, 2014.— Photo by Reuters.
A polling officer carrying her child learns the working of an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a distribution centre, ahead of the second phase of the general election at Muzaffarnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh April 9, 2014. — Photo by Reuters.
A polling officer carrying her child learns the working of an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a distribution centre, ahead of the second phase of the general election at Muzaffarnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh April 9, 2014. — Photo by Reuters.
A polling officer checks the number of an electronic voting machine after it was deposited in a strong room at Senapati, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. — Photo by AP.
A polling officer checks the number of an electronic voting machine after it was deposited in a strong room at Senapati, in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. — Photo by AP.
Polling officers walk with the election material for the third phase of voting, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2014.  — Photo by AP.
Polling officers walk with the election material for the third phase of voting, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. — Photo by AP.
Indian election officers check documents before distribution to polling stations, at an election control room in New Delhi on April 9, 2014. — Photo by AFP.
Indian election officers check documents before distribution to polling stations, at an election control room in New Delhi on April 9, 2014. — Photo by AFP.
Polling officers check the election material  for the third phase of voting, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. — Photo by AP.
Polling officers check the election material for the third phase of voting, in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. — Photo by AP.

Around 815 million people have registered to vote in the world's biggest election - a number exceeding the population of Europe and a world record - and results of the mammoth exercise, which concludes on May 12, are due on May 16. These are a selection of photos of the Indian polling officers in the midst of the voting.

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....