Voters' enrolment drive from May 28

Special voters' enrolment drive would be conducted between May 28 and June 12 with a target to achieve 100 per cent voter enrolment in the State. The Election Commission of India (ECI) held state-level consultations on Improving Electoral Rolls Management recently in city.

The Chief Electoral Officer has convened a meeting of representatives of political parties, university vice-chancellors, voluntary organisations, welfare associations, senior officials of various departments and others to take their views on voter enrolment programme.

The decision came only after the members and representatives of various political parties in the State urged State Chief Electoral Officer IV Subba Rao to take up necessary corrections in the voters' list and steps for the new voter I-card enrolment.

The members also urged the CEO to take steps ensuring that the names of the voters, who carried EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) be mentioned in the voters' list in the polling stations during elections.

As part of the drive, about 500 voter enrolment centres would be opened in colonies and bastis. A tracking system would also be set up to know the status of those who have applied for enrolment. Besides, e-seva centres will be utilised for the service of voters' enrolment and drop boxes would be set up at every public place.

This time the main focus would be on the first-time voters who have just turned 18 years and are not getting enrolled. According to recent survey by the ECI only about 30 per cent of the eligible voters in this age group were currently enrolled. The remaining 70 per cent needed to be registered in the electoral rolls. The ECI would also enter into an MoU with the Universities, Residential Associations and SHG groups for the purpose.

The 12-day exercise will involve publication of the draft rolls on May 28 followed by submission of claims and objections till June 12. The claims and objections would be disposed of by June 26, the database will be updated by July 10 and the final rolls will be published on July 17. In respect of the 12 Assembly constituencies in the twin city, the database would be updated by June 30 and the final rolls published on July 12.