Similar symbols may confuse voters

Adilabad: The new symbols allotted to the candidates contesting for sarpanch and ward member posts is worrying them. They are afraid that the voters may get confused as several of these symbols are looking similar and vote for others. They are nervous that a single vote may change their fate.

There are many villages and small panchayats in the erstwhile Adilabad district, which doesn’t have more than 300 population and most of them are illiterate and elderly people.

Candidates vying for the sarpanch post were given 30 symbols - cricket bat, cup, ring, cup sasar, chair, shuttle cock, black boar, handbag, coconut, foot boll, brinjal and scissors. Voters can caste their vote for any of these symbols or go for NOTA.

Earlier, simple and easily identifiable symbols like sparrow, tree, hut etc were allotted. But this time new symbols were allotted. Of these, ring is in the first place in the list and can be easily understood by the voters.

Shuttle cock in seventh place, which many of the villagers don’t know and would become difficult. Even if the candidate campaign about their symbols, it would be a tough task to identify the symbol in the ballot paper.

Bat in third position and flight is in fifth
position, which may confuse the voters. Fork in 29th position and spoon in 30th position are similar. Many people may confuse with
the symbols, there is no risk of voting for one another.

In the ballot papers of ward members, gas stove in third place and gas cylinder in fifth place. Since these two symbols look similar, there are chances for the voters to get confused and may vote for others instead of the candidate they wanted to vote really.