The Election Commission is giving the voters yet another opportunity of getting their votes made.
It is organising a Mela, across the country on March 9, where the voters will be able to check whether their names have been included in the electoral roles in the final push to increase the voter turn-out on the polling day. A special camp would be organised at all the 21,957 polling stations across Punjab on Sunday for the eligible voters to verify inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls and registration of voters who have been left out of the electoral rolls.
In case of discrepancy or any other problem, they have the time till March 30 in the State of Punjab, which goes for poll on April 30, to sort out the issue. “The Election Commission is organising a kind of Mela on March 9 where people can check whether their name is included in the electoral roll…having an Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) does not make you mean that you can vote. You name should be there in the rolls,” said Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh.
“We are ensuring that those not included in rolls are given last opportunity to enroll. Up to March 30, that is, ten days ahead last date for nominations, those citizens who are eligible to vote but aren't enrolled can submit their Form 6 and apply for enrolment,” said Singh. “The electoral roll would be on display at all the polling stations of the State on Sunday, March 9. Booth officers would be present there to help the people,” he added. Punjab has a total of 21,957 polling stations, including 15,463 in rural areas, and rest 6,494 in urban.
The booth level officers have been given the task of facilitating the citizens to check their names in the electoral rolls and also receive filled out copies of Form 6, in case of new voter registration. “I appeal to all the citizens of the State to make maximum use of this special camp, and please verify and check your name in the list so that you don’t face last minute embarrassment,” said the CEO.
The decision assumes significance in the light of the fact that many people, at the time of polling, get to know that their name was not in the electoral roll, due to several reasons as a result of which, many votes could not be polled. For those who do not want to come out of the comfort of their house, the CEO said that electoral roll is also available “online”. “People can also check for their names in the electoral rolls which have been made available by the election commission on its website,” he added.
The electoral rolls were published on January 31, 2014, and in Punjab it can be updated by March 30. The Commission has also set up 24X7 toll-free number — 1950 — for any complaints or queries related to the elections. As per the State election commission data, Punjab has 1.92 crore voters, of which 90.94 lakh are female voters, and 1.01 crore are male. Punjab has 13 Parliamentary constituencies, three of which are reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes. Polling in all seven constituencies will be held on April 30.