SAD seeks extension of polling hours for May 26 civic polls

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday urged the State Election Commission to extend polling hours for the May 26 civic body elections from the current 8 am-5 pm schedule to 7 am-6 pm, citing prevailing heatwave conditions in Punjab.In a statement, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the existing timings could discourage voter participation during peak afternoon hours, particularly among senior citizens, women and other vulnerable groups.Cheema said longer polling hours would help ensure safer voting conditions and improve voter turnout.He also argued that the current schedule was unfair to daily wagers and farm labourers, who may be forced to choose between earning a livelihood and casting their vote."The commission should take a practical and humanitarian view to ensure maximum participation in the democratic process," he said.