Is your name on the voters' list but you don't have the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)? Then there is a good chance it will be delivered on your doorstep.
Yes, Election Commission of India (ECI) has come up with a unique campaign, EPIC Week, starting June 17 when officials will visit the homes of those in the city whose names are on the voters' list but who have not secured an EPIC yet. Of the 60 lakh voters in Bangalore city, some 25 lakh do not have their voters' ID card. So 10,000 officials will reach out to them between June 17 and 23 to ensure they get their cards soon.
100 per cent coverage
The Chief Electoral Officer of the State, who held a meeting with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials on Tuesday, chalked out a plan to ensure 100 per cent EPIC coverage in Bangalore city, which is among the cities with lowest coverage in southern States.
Talking to presspersons after the meeting, BBMP Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said the officials will deliver the customised application forms to the residence of the voters during the first few days of the campaign. The officials will revisit the voters' homes after a couple of days to collect the filled applications and colour passport-size photographs. The EPIC will be delivered to the voters in a fortnight from that date.
Only registered voters
Election Commission of India's Special Officer (Elections) R. Manoj said that this campaign is meant only to issue EPIC to already registered voters. The pre-printed form contains all the details of the voter, which are available in the voters list, along with a barcode. Any one of the family members can affix the photographs of all the registered voters in separate forms and hand over the same to the officials, said Mr. Manoj. The officials will collect the voters' cellphone numbers to be in touch during the process and to ensure the cards reach them.
He said the form also contains space to rectify errors in the voters' list. In case of correction regarding age, voters will have to provide copies of supporting documents.
Voters will be given a counterfoil as acknowledgement for the forms collected. In case of death of a registered voter or change of address from that mentioned on the list, the officials will take necessary action as per law.
Mr. Meena said the residents' welfare associations, non-government organisations and other such bodies and elected representatives will be roped in to reach the voters.
