Hyderabad, January 8: The government has introduced online application and e-registration to avoid delay in the issue of Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) said Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal on Friday.
Talking to media persons at the state Secretariat, Mr Bhanwar Lal said that the EPICs will be issued on January 25, once the requisite application form is filled in by the voter. The government has already enrolled 5.75 crore voters as on January 5, he revealed.
The CEO also revealed that arrangements have been made to set up 43000 polling stations in AP and issue EPIC to 20 lakh voters at an official function on January 25, along with the Election Commission’s slogan ‘ proud to vote and ready to vote’.
So far, in seven districts, Kadapa, Anantapur, Chittoor, Nellore, Nizamabad, Hyderabad and Krishna, the EPIC coverage was 100 percent, he said.
In two districts Karimnagar and West Godavari the work related to EPIC process is under completion, said the CEO.
Appealing to the voters to enroll at the earliest for issue of EPIC in Form 8, Mr Bhanwar Lal clarified that corrections, if any, would be made and furnished the website address www.ceoap.nic.in.
In addition, the voters could contact their polling officer also for door delivery of the cards.
Besides this, arrangements for the delivery through postmen have also been made, he said.
In urban areas, as per agreement, the E-Sevas will also be functional to issue the forms for issue of EPICs.
As per the projected figure 8.37 crore population in AP, 65 percent are eligible voters including above 18 years voters with 66795 polling stations, 55 000 booth officers and16000 post offices at their disposal for promoting the issue of cards, the Chief Electoral Officer said.
He added that efforts are on to issue the cards at the door step and Rs 45 per application would be paid for door delivery and Rs 3,000 as honorarium plus Rs 5 per card to the booth officer for processing the application form, Mr Bhanwar Lal said.
Further, he clarified that the corrections and issue will be effected on priority unlike before.
When asked about the delay he said that they would rectify any handicaps and urged the voters to apply immediately to avoid delay.
INN