The Chennai District Election Office has requested electors to submit applications before March 16 for inclusion of names on the electoral rolls for this Lok Sabha election.
“We need 10 days to process the applications. So we request electors to submit applications before March 16. We will process the applications before March 26,” said an official.
Data entry operations in the city remains a challenge as more than 80,000 people are waiting to be included in the rolls for this Lok Sabha elections.
An estimated 4 lakh residents have problems relating to electoral rolls in the metropolitan area.
Complaints over EPIC
Chennai and its suburbs such as Kancheepuram, Avadi, Tambaram, Poonamallee and Tiruvallur have received the largest number of complaints related to Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and electoral rolls in the past few months.
Of the total complaints in the entire State, more than 50% have been recorded in Chennai Metropolitan Area, which includes parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
According to officials, many residents’ associations have alleged that their members have applied for EPIC but the officials have not been able to distribute the cards so far.
A few months ago, the Election Commission was informed by the officials that they have not been been able to trace a number of complaints owing to a system of applying for EPIC through e-seva centres.
Meetings with associations
Civic officials said they have started conducting meetings with residents welfare associations in all the 15 zones in the city, creating awareness about the options available for them to resolve issues relating to EPIC and electoral rolls.
“We are creating awareness on the online and offline options available for getting EPIC and services relating to electoral rolls," said an official.
‘Purification not possible’
Chennai District Election officials said that purification of electoral rolls may not be possible owing to the rising complaints from residents on EPIC and electoral rolls.
According to estimates, at least 15% of the electors in the city are classified as absent, shifted or dead.