Voters, check your names at Election Commission's kiosks

BANGALORE: The Election Commission has asked citizens to check if their names are in the voters' list before heading for polling stations on Sunday. "We have set up kiosks at the entrance of each polling booth. Here, people can easily find their names if they haven't been able to access the information on our website," chief electoral officer (CEO), Karnataka, Anil Kumar Jha said on Friday. On B.PAC's claim that over 32,000 names are missing from the electoral rolls, Jha said they have corrected the list and ensured there is no technical error. "But such mistakes are possible when you upload 12 lakh names in less than a day." All registered voters will receive slips by the end of Saturday, the CEO said, referring to TOI's article on political parties handing out slips with conflicting information about polling booths. "I came to know about the issue in BDA Layout HAL 3rd Stage. Political parties can distribute voter slips, but people must wait for the slips that we are going to give them. I have spoken to the BBMP commissioner, who has promised that all areas will be covered by the end of Saturday. Our slips will have pictures of voters. Correct information about which booth to go to will be mentioned," Jha said. District election officers have been given 10% extra EVMs as a stand-by. "There will be separate queues for the physically challenged and visually impaired. Accompaniment is allowed for the visually impaired.'' Jha said there is an option for voters who don't want to exercise their franchise in favour of any candidate and record the same. Section 49(O) of the The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, has a provision for this. Source: TOI