The number of voters for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections is down by 1,451 when compared with that for the 2018 Assembly elections after the Election Commission of India published the mother electoral roll for Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday.
But, this is not something unusual, according to S. Sasikanth Senthil, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer (DEO). Mr. Senthil told reporters here that while 13,793 new names were added to the rolls during the special summary revision, 15,051 names were deleted, including that of students who are not residing in respective jurisdictions.
However, the process of continuous updation would be on; but the newly added names would not come into the mother roll and would be in the supplementary rolls, Mr. Senthil said. The DEO said that the mother roll would be published at all notified places and urged the general public as well as political parties to make a note of this. They can approach officials concerned to file objections, if any, as the commission would not entertain such objections when the election process begins.
During the summary revision, 14,211 applications for additions, 15,069 for deletions, 5,209 for correction, and 368 for change in Assembly parts were received. Of these, 13,793 applications for additions and 15,051 applications for deletions were accepted, he said.
Terming the mother roll a healthy one, Mr. Senthil said the elector-population ratio (75%) is almost close to the State average. The commission has decided to establish 1,861 polling booths for the Lok Sabha polls as against 1,790 put up for the Assembly polls. The National Electors’ Day would be observed in all taluk headquarters on January 25, where newly added voters would be given elector’s identity cards. The commission has asked educational institutions to encourage newly added voters to participate in the programme. As many as 21,292 first-time voters are added to the rolls, the DEO said.
Reforms
The commission is undertaking several reforms, including online application for additions, which may come into effect from the next general elections.It is very focussed on grievance redressal system and has established all-India toll-free number — 1950 — for the purpose. Calls would get connected to the respective district headquarters. The commission is also working on eliminating double entry of names, he added.
Additional Deputy commissioner Kumara was present.
Who is eligible to enrol
Mr. Senthil on Wednesday said anyone who is ordinarily residing in a particular place is eligible to enrol in the electoral rolls of the particular Assembly segment.
Responding to allegations of mass enrolment of students from outside States in the local electoral rolls here, Mr. Senthil said inquiries during the previous Assembly polls did not reveal any violations in the process.
Once the students move out, their names would get deleted during the summary revision, the DEO said, giving the example of deletion of about 300 names from the rolls in Surathkal area during the recent summary revision.
