Special drive for enrollment of voters begins in Krishna district

Vijayawada: The district administration has launched a special drive for enrollment of voters in the stipulated time of October 31 prescribed by the Election Commission. According to the Election Commission, the electorate should be between 67 to 75 percent of the population. 

The Krishna district has only 63 per cent voters, which is nearly four per cent less than the electorate. Consequently, the district administration launched four-day special drive beginning on Sunday for the enrollment of voters particularly the young voters who reached 18 years of age by January 1, 2019. 

The elections to the Assembly and Parliament may be held after March, 2019. So, the young voters can exercise their franchise in the ensuing elections.  Massive enrollment drive of voters was taken up in 3,968 booths located in 53 revenue mandals of 16 Assembly constituencies. As per the norms, the Krishna district should have 32.50 lakh voters. But, so far only 30.50 lakh voters have registered their names. 

The officials have received 1.30 lakh applications, which will be verified and ID cards issued by the officials. Another 70,000 applications are yet to be received in four days.

To fill the gap, the district administration has taken up massive drive, said the district collector B Lakshmikantham. The collector has appointed mandal tahsildars as the observers and instructed the electoral registration officers and assistant electoral officers to play keyrole in the enrollment of voters. The population of Krishna district is 48.11 lakh.

Eligible candidates can visit the booths in the respective towns, villages and fill the application forms for enrollment of voters. Besides, online facility is also arranged for enrollment of voters. Mylavaram constituency is the biggest constituency with over 2.36 lakh voters followed by Gannavaram and Penamaluru Assembly constituencies with over 2.20 lakh voters. 

Machilipatnam and Pedana constituencies have less voters with 1.60 lakh. Earlier, collector Lakshmikantham conducted a series of review meetings with the officials of revenue, panchayat raj, municipal and other departments for enrollment of voters and to reach the target by October 31.

If the applicants enrolled their names, their names will be included in the voters list to be prepared by January 1, 2019. So, the district administration is making relentless efforts and asking the eligible candidates to register their names by October 31, 2018.