Voters struggle to get identity cards from Mee Seva centres

Nellore: As the elections have turned out to be crucial this time with tough fight between ruling and the opposition parties, newly registered voters are getting anxiety as they were unable to get voter identity cards from the Mee Seva centres even though the Election Commission of India had provided EPIC numbers.

In fact, total number of voters in the entire district were 22.06 lakh and it increased to 23.91 lakh after new registrations up to March 15 this year. Around 1.85 lakh new voters have registered their names up to the deadline and they are failing to get the identity cards which has been making them worried since the polling date is fast approaching.

Majority Mee Seva centres are being crowded with new voters, who are expecting identity card from them where the staff simply say downloading is not available. There is no other option to get the card except from these authorised centres and the new voters are approaching local Booth Level Officials (BLOs) for necessary support. Fresh educated voters are getting details of EPIC numbers from the BLOs.

But, in case of illiterates, they are in a dilemma whether the card was approved or not and whom to contact for casting vote. The district administration directed the BLOs to issue voter slips to the people and still it is under progress. District Collector also said that the BLOs visit the houses of new voters and handover the slips to them.

Voters can display the slips at the time of polling along with a valid identity proof and can exercise their franchise. "In olden days, political parties used to render these important services to the voters like distributing voter slips etc. Now, they are focusing on campaign and the ways to contact the voter. When there is no chance for voting what is the use of taking up campaign," asked P Srinivasa Rao from Stonehousepet area.

District Election Officer R Mutyalaraju informed that the BLOs would distribute the slips up to April 6 and they handover the undistributed slips to the Returning Officer (RO). Saturday is the closing day and still many areas have not received these slips. If they return the slips to the concerned RO, voters have to approach them for the slips before 10th. He also said first phase voter identity cards are also being distributed and yet to receive second phase cards.