Election Commission steps up efforts to enroll voters in Maharashtra, Maharashtra political news, Maharashtra Election News 2014, Maharashtra political news 2014 updates
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- Category: Maharashtra Political News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 21:03
Election Commission steps up efforts to enroll voters in Maharashtra
NEW DELHI: For maximum registration of voters ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls, the Election Commission has sent over 26 lakh letters along with the enrollment form to people whose names were deleted in Mumbai, Thane and Pune.
Calling this an "unprecedented move", the EC spokesperson said 4.5 lakh of these letters sent by speed post were delivered. The rest returned undelivered as the address was incorrect or the person to who it was addressed had left.
Aamir Khan was roped in for EC's "information and motivation campaign" on radio and television. The campaign, especially, highlighted the need to check names in the final roll.
In the Lok Sabha polls, there was a controversy over names missing from the voters' lists in Mumbai and Pune. In view of this, the EC took several "extensive and extraordinary measures" to enroll voters through elaborate outreach and facilitation measures in Maharashtra. A special summary revision was held in the entire state from June 9 to June 30, including two special campaigns of two days each.
Around 20.3 lakh electors were enrolled during the special summary revision in Maharashtra, including 1.94 lakh in Mumbai and 2.66 lakh in Pune. Those eligible can enroll as voters up to ten days before the last date of nomination of candidates for the state assembly polls.
During the special summary revision, the draft electoral roll was published at all polling stations and on notice boards of Electoral Registration Officers. The roll was also displayed on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer along with search facility.
Representatives of recognized political parties were given copies of draft and final electoral rolls. A special relaxation was given for those whose names were deleted but were holding EPIC. Their claims were accepted only with a photocopy of the EPIC and without demanding any extra proof. Suo motu deletions were strictly prohibited.
Besides extensive advertisements in newspapers, the EC launched an audio-video campaign on All India Radio, Doordarshan and popular private channels across major cities and towns.