MUMBAI, Dec. 12 -- In a bid to improve voter turnout in high-profile areas and housing complexes, the state election commission (SEC) has decided to allow polling booths in the city's housing societies for the BMC elections. Around 850 booths are expected to be set up. Polling booths were put up in housing societies for the first time during the assembly elections in November 2024, which helped to increase voting in those areas. Taking a cue from this, both the SEC and the BMC hope to replicate the success in the civic body polls. The apathy of Mumbaikars, especially in the city's tony areas, with regard to voting is legendary-for years, the city's voting percentage has hovered around 45% except in 2017, when it touched 55%, the highest figure since 1992. Otherwise, Mumbai registers much lower voter turnouts compared to other parts of Maharashtra. State election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said that the move would help increase voter participation in the civic body elections. "Many people in housing complexes avoid going out to vote due to several issues like the distance of the polling booths from home, long queues and other reasons," he said....