Names missing from list, many keep fingers crossed

MUMBAI: While Smita Parekh’s son is all set to get his finger inked for the first time on Monday, the dentist from Parel herself is keeping her fingers crossed, not sure whether she will be able to vote in the

Lok Sabha election

as her name is missing from the

electoral list

.


“I checked the (Election Commission) website and didn’t find my name on the list. Then I sent an SMS to 1950 (

voter helpline

), but did not get any reply. I will now wait for party workers to set up booths with the electoral rolls on Monday and ask them to look for my name. If it doesn’t work, then I guess I won’t be able to vote this year,” said Parekh. In her family, everyone except her has received voter slips from the Election Commission.

With less than 48 hours to go before polling starts in the city, activists say they are flooded with last- minute queries about

missing names

,

change of booths

and even facilities available for disabled voters. “I am getting many calls regarding names not being found in the list or cases in which family members have been registered under different polling booths. I direct them to the returning officers. Some are also panicking that they haven't received their

voter slip

from the Election Commission,” said Ashok Singh a resident of Chembur.

Some who got enrolled after the first electoral roll was finalised in January were unable to check their names in the list till March 30, the last date of enrolment.

“What if I had enrolled in February and my name did not show up in the supplementary electoral rolls published later? I would not have been able to do anything as the last date of enrolment would have passed,” said Akshay Sekhri, a resident of Kalina.

There have also been complaints about confusion in the voter registration drive. Nehal Saraf (41), whose family has shifted to Navi Mumbai from Malad, said she recently learnt that their applications have been rejected in Navi Mumbai. While two applications were rejected because of “invalid photo” and applicant “not present at hearing”, another was rejected because the applicant “could not submit residence proof”.

While it makes sense that their applications were rejected since they were registered elsewhere, Saraf did not receive any intimation about a hearing. “It is unfair that they reject applications like this, without giving us a chance (to explain at a hearing),” she said.

Since the family had not cancelled their old voter ID cards with the Malad address, they will vote in Mumbai North, as they received the voter slips at the old address.

On the other hand, there are many who have got their issues sorted and are geared up for V-Day. “We had no problem finding our names... We have received our voter slips as well,” said Haren Punamiya, a resident of Hindu Colony.


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