Citizens keen on voting this elections may better pull up their socks and check for their names in the voters’ lists. That they had voted in 2014 is no guarantee that they will be able to do so again.
Complaints abound about voters not being able to find their names in the list, sometimes owing to deletion, and sometimes due to cumbersome procedure.
That the lists are made randomly is apparent in some cases, where the names of citizens were deleted without any plausible reason.
Kavita B. from Kukatpally holding Electoral Photo Identity Card number ‘SWD2144202’ has enrolled herself along with her husband with the number ‘SWD2145390’ in 2010, after which they voted in Assembly polls of 2014 as well as the GHMC polls in 2016.
Though they stayed at the same address, their names have now been deleted from the voters’ list as displayed on Election Commission’s website. A complaint has been lodged about the same.
Rama Sharma, another octogenarian learned about the deletions only when the enumerators visited his home at Swarnapuri Colony of Mothinagar recently, to enrol him again.
“We did not know our names have been deleted. The enumerators visited our colony with the list of deleted names, and got the enrolment forms signed by us,” Mr. Sharma, who had been staying at the residence for 30 years said.
Similar is the case with Rahul and Suma Jyothi, a couple from Koti who have their votes in Amberpet constituency. Despite staying there for generations, and voting in 2014 Assembly elections, their names are not to be found on the list.
Searching for names without EPIC is another task, as entering full name will yield no results. Voters are advised to enter any three letters of the name excluding initials and surnames. “Initially I tried with full name, but got no results. When I entered the first three letters, I got numerous results including names of women,” says Ch.Ramakrishna, from Baghlingampally.
Duplicate entries abound too. Manne Krishank, Congress spokesperson from Cantonment, points to triple entry of a woman Maria Vintroza, ironically with the same address. M. Narasimha Reddy, whose name has a double entry in Musheerabad constituency, has been trying to get officials to delete one entry, but unable to achieve it.
“The enumerating officials have visited thrice till now. Every time, I have been telling them about the double entry, but so far, nothing has been done,” Mr. Reddy said.
Getting an EPIC is more difficult than finding your name or getting it deleted. N. Sreekumar from Vijayapuri Colony of Tarnaka recounts his experience.“People at voter verification camp told me to go to any Mee Seva centre, and I visited fourof them, each sending me to the other one. Finally, at one centre, they asked me to give my details and pay ₹ 100, to get the card in a week’s time,” he says, and wonders why the EPICs can’t be delivered at doorstep.