The current year 2013 has been declared as “Voter Enrolment Year” and new Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) designed on the lines of credit/SMART cards will be given with colour photographs of voters, State Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal said.
Orders were issued to officials to issue EPIC cards within one month to online applicants through A.P. Online, Mee Seva and eSeva centres, he told newsmen while briefing on the proceedings of his closed-door meeting with revenue officials at the State guest house. Existing EPIC card-holders can also take fresh cards with colour photographs in place of the black and white cards by paying a nominal fee to be decided shortly, he said.
The Election Commission of India has directed collection of the latitude and longitude of around 10 lakh polling station in the country and their synchronisation with Google Maps, taking cue from the exercise done in Kadapa district, the CEO said. The details of 67,000 polling stations in the State would be placed on the EC website soon. Booth-level officials would take up door-to-door verification in June/July and issue slips containing details of the family members, Mr. Lal said. He also directed officials not to eliminate the names of migrant labourers.