The Hindu : National : “Correct mistakes in rolls and voter cards”

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Thursday, Feb 05, 2009
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“Correct mistakes in rolls and voter cards”

J. Balaji

Poll Commission’s instruction to CEOs on complaints by parties

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has asked the Chief Electoral Officers to immediately set right the mistakes pointed out by political parties in preparation of photo electoral rolls and distribution of elector’s photo identity cards (EPIC) in their States.

All States, except Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir, have photo electoral rolls.

Talking to The Hindu after chairing a day-long meeting with the CEOs here, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said their attention was drawn to complaints of names missing or mass deletions in the rolls, and defects in the EPIC which would affect identification.

Though the three-member Commission did not set any specific deadline for completing the job, the CEOs were told that they could carry out the process till the elections and ensure that there was no error.

The Commission asked the CEOs to avoid setting up new polling booths on the first floor in urban areas as it would put the aged and the physically challenged to inconvenience.

Mr. Gopalaswami said he did not seek opinion of the CEOs on the probable dates for holding the general elections. “The Commission will decide about it.” But the discussions were on important festivals and holidays specific to a region or a State. He pointed out that earlier in Tripura a poll date had to be changed following objections by political parties as it clashed with a festival.

A CEO, who participated in the meeting, said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and there was a free exchange of views among all the three Commissioners — Mr. Gopalaswami, Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quraishi — and the officers.

The CEOs were also asked to participate in the meeting to be held here with the Chief Secretaries and the Directors-General of Police on Thursday. They were told to complete by February 10 the process of publication of revised rolls, which is prepared with January 1, 2009 as the cut-off date.

Strict enforcement of the model code of conduct, prevention of misuse of power, ensuring a level playing field for all candidates and parties, and zero tolerance of violence, intimidation and rigging were some of the other issues stressed by the Commission, the CEO said.

Later an EC release said the Commission reviewed the status of enrolment of service personnel and directed the CEOs to maximise their enrolment through special campaigns in the military stations within their States.

It also reviewed the measures for the conduct of the Lok Sabha elections, and the Assembly elections in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim simultaneously.

Availability of EVMs and other election materials, checking the proper functioning of the machines, creating awareness of EVM use among voters, training of polling personnel, and observer management were reviewed.

While asking the CEOs to maximise photo roll coverage and preparation as well as distribution of the EPIC, the Commission wanted the officers to get the support of booth level agents, a new initiative of the EC, for updating the rolls.

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