Voters complain about not receiving voting slips

Nagpur: Even on the eve of voting, a number of voters are yet to get their slips that contained their names, polling booth number and centre name. These slips made it very convenient to find out the poll booth and avoid any confusion. Till last polls, the representatives of various parties used to deliver these slips to voters’ homes. This year, the parties haven’t extended these services, and that had surprised many.
Some Congress workers like Rajesh Ghodmare complains that voter slips were prepared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) were full of discrepancies. “Besides errors in names and polling booths, those are not prepared properly. The names on slips are not from same locality and it was becoming extremely difficult for us to segregate and distribute them. If one name is in Deo Nagar, other one is in Khamla, and not from single locality.”

Several homemakers were apprehensive on whether they would be able to vote. “I am very worried and think that my name is deleted from the voting list. Now, I will have to move to places to search my name tomorrow,” says Shalini Yelwatkar of Bahubali Nagar.

Echoing her sentiments, senior citizen Deepak Hirde warns about drop in polling percentage due to the mess. “The voters would have run from one booth to other to search their names, as those changed with every election.”

A voter from Itwari, Amar Nagpal, adds, “Neither the district administration issued slips and nor any political parties are helping us out.”

Collector-cum-returning officer Ashwin Mudgal admits about receiving many complaints in this regard. He assured that they had already started distributing slips on a war scale and it would continue till late evening. “Those who’re unable to get slips should contact ECI’s booth level officers (BLOs), who will be present inside all booths. They will help the voters, who should carry their election cards for identification.”

Rahul Sarang, tehsildar (election) informs that the administration issued slips, but it was possible that those may not have been distributed. “We’ve established 24x7 toll free helpline number (1950) for voters seeking information about their booth. Those not familiar with handling apps and unable to dial the helpline should straightway reach the polling station from where they had cast their vote earlier,” he added.

Mudgal says even the voters having errors on their election cards should approach the BLOs at respective booths, as they could cast their vote as per rules. “The representatives of various parties would sit about 200 metres outside the booths and help them out,” he added.