Kolkata, April 4 (IANS): All-women staff will be deployed at polling booths in nearly half of West Bengal's 19 districts, an official said Friday.

As per the designated number of officials at poll stations, there will be four women personnel at each booth.

This is a significant increase from the number of such special polling booths in the 2011 assembly elections.

"There were a few all-women polling booths earlier. In the Lok Sabha election, nearly half of the districts will have all-women polling booths," an Election Commission official told IANS.

Districts like the North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly are part of the initiative, the official said.

"Necessary security measures will be taken," the official said.

Further information on the status of the all-women polling booths will be available after officials of the Election Commission arrive April 5, the official said.

The first phase of polling in the state will be held April 17.