Poll panel sets ball rolling for lok Sabha polls

The Election Commission, in preparation for the 16th lok Sabha polls due in April-May 2014, has asked Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states to update the necessary data and electoral rolls, officials in the Tripura capital said Friday.

"The ECI has asked the CEOs and district magistrates to update the necessary data expected to be required to hold the next lok Sabha elections," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal told reporters. He said that besides photo-electoral rolls, the ECI has sought that information about officials who would be engaged in the election process is also brought up to date.

The commission has also directed that information be collected about the position of polling stations and counting centres, and the condition of roads linking the polling stations. Those who turn 18 years on or before January 1, 2014 are eligible to register as voters for the next lok Sabha polls. To avoid duplication and forgery, the poll panel has started to provide coloured plastic Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) instead of the current laminated paper card to all voters in India.

"The new PVC (plastic) EPIC has many scientific security features to prevent duplication, forging and tampering. Tripura is probably the first state in India to introduce the newly designed EPIC last week," Jindal said. He said that unlike the present paper voter's card, the PVC-EPIC has coded information of the elector inserted into it. According to the official, after inclusion of new voters, the updated electoral rolls would be published Jan 6. The term of the 15th lok Sabha will end May 31, 2014.