Mumbai: In a significant move to encourage maximum turnout in the assembly polls, the election commission (EC) will start distributing voter slips 20 to 24 days before the October 15 poll date. Voters must ensure someone is at home or in the housing society to receive them. The high turnout in this Lok Sabha election was partly attributed to voter slips, which can be used as an ID proof in the absence of voter cards.
While a senior EC official admitted that ensuring all voters get voter slips at home is a tall order, distribution would be kicked off on September 20 itself. The final electoral rolls will be confirmed and printed for each polling station after September 17—the last date for voter registration.
During the Lok Sabha election, distribution began just four to five days before the poll date. EC officials could, therefore, manage to take the slips to just around 60% of the voters.
"We want to beat that figure so that a majority of voters know the basic facts and come out this time round. We want to take the figure to at least 90% of voters, though our target is 100% or 8.3 crore citizens," said a senior EC official. The slips are distributed with the help of government and municipal staff and teaching staff.
"A slip includes a voter's photograph, name and polling booth address. In case of non-delivery, the slips are kept at the polling station along with the electoral rolls so that citizens can vote easily," a source said.
"Such voter slips were first distributed during the recent Lok Sabha elections but only a few days before the poll date. Therefore, they could not reach the maximum number of voters," an EC official said.
What voters need to do is ensure someone is at home when government officials start delivering the slips door to door. "At least, tell the society staff or watchmen to receive and distribute them immediately. Societies can give such an authority to their staff," he said.
While a senior EC official admitted that ensuring all voters get voter slips at home is a tall order, distribution would be kicked off on September 20 itself. The final electoral rolls will be confirmed and printed for each polling station after September 17—the last date for voter registration.
During the Lok Sabha election, distribution began just four to five days before the poll date. EC officials could, therefore, manage to take the slips to just around 60% of the voters.
"We want to beat that figure so that a majority of voters know the basic facts and come out this time round. We want to take the figure to at least 90% of voters, though our target is 100% or 8.3 crore citizens," said a senior EC official. The slips are distributed with the help of government and municipal staff and teaching staff.
"A slip includes a voter's photograph, name and polling booth address. In case of non-delivery, the slips are kept at the polling station along with the electoral rolls so that citizens can vote easily," a source said.
"Such voter slips were first distributed during the recent Lok Sabha elections but only a few days before the poll date. Therefore, they could not reach the maximum number of voters," an EC official said.
What voters need to do is ensure someone is at home when government officials start delivering the slips door to door. "At least, tell the society staff or watchmen to receive and distribute them immediately. Societies can give such an authority to their staff," he said.
http://ift.tt/1m3J35V slips,Election Commission
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