Maharashtra prepares for a Rs60 crore exercise to issue election cards to all 6.6 crore voters across the state.
State prepares for a Rs60-crore exercise to issue election cards to all 6.6 crore voters
MUMBAI: After over a decade, you may finally get that much-coveted proof of identity — the election card. The state election department is ready to issue voter identity cards in January. What’s more, you will get the card on the spot, provided you have no changes to be made in the electoral rolls.
Preparations for the mammoth Rs60-crore exercise covering all 6.6 crore voters in Maharashtra are on in full swing after unsuccessful attempts in the past to continue issuing election cards after they were launched in 1994-95. Only about 60 per cent of the electorate is believed to currently possess an election identity card.
The election department is leaving no stone unturned for the three-phase campaign to be launched in early January. “We are now in the last phase of training our staff to handle this gigantic exercise,” says chief electoral officer UPS Madan.
The software has been finalised and tenders have been issued to three companies to take digital pictures of the voter, scan it and prepare the card. The election staff will scrutinise the verification documents submitted by the voter and issue the card.
As part of the preparation, the election department has also compiled photo-electoral rolls — a feature available only in few states like Kerala. “Information about voters with an election card was tallied with the updated electoral rolls of 2006,’’ explains Madan. But a lot of data couldn’t be retrieved from the old records.
“As of now, only 2.6 voters with election cards have identical data on the rolls. We need to confirm the data about the other voters who possess the card. The picture will become clearer once they come forward and comprehensive data is compiled,’’ he says.
The department will issue an individual intimation slip to all voters soon. Those who already possess an election card can avail of a new one if any of the particulars therein are incorrect. However, if they wish to get a new card or wish to register a change of address, they will have to pay Rs25. “For faulty cards issued by us, we will not charge the voter,” says Madan, while encouraging even those with election cards to go for a new one even if it’s for a new photograph. “It will give us an updated database,” he says.
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