Zonal officers to carry out vulnerability mapping of polling booths in Coimbatore ahead of 2026 Assembly polls

District Collector and District Election Officer Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar has instructed zonal officers to carry out vulnerability mapping of 3,563 polling booths across the district as part of preparations for the Assembly elections.

The instruction was issued during a training programme for zonal officers held in the city on Saturday. During the programme, officers were given hands-on training on electronic voting machines (EVMs) and were tasked with identifying vulnerable polling stations, assessing law and order-related sensitivities, and flagging booths requiring additional security arrangements.

Zonal officers were also instructed to assess the availability of assured minimum facilities, enhanced minimum facilities, and road connectivity to polling stations, and to report any gaps to the district administration.

The Collector asked the officers to submit their vulnerability mapping and facility assessment reports by February 11.

Each zonal officer was assigned a minimum of 10 polling booths and a maximum of 12 booths. Master trainers were also involved in the training sessions.

A total of 366 zonal officers, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) for all 10 Assembly constituencies in the district participated in the programme. Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and senior officials were also present.