The Lok Satta Party has raised certain questions over the Election Commission of India itself distributing identity slips to voters in by-elections. Hitherto, political parties or contestants used to distribute the identity slips which carry the name, voter number, and polling station details to voters. In a representation to Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal, Lok Satta Party leaders P Bhaskara Rao and K Gangadhara Rao pointed out that distribution of voter identity slips in Kovur Assembly constituency is flawed. Election duty personnel are not distributing correct voter ID slips at voters’ residences in some cases.
The distribution is not being done either continuously or systematically holding out the prospect of some voters not receiving slips. Again, it is not clear whether election duty personnel will distribute identity slips on the day of polling. The Lok Satta leaders said there is no clarity on whether political parties or candidates will be permitted to set up tables beyond the 200-meter boundary of a polling station on the polling day and isse voter slips.
The Election Commission’s ambiguity on the issue will result in dominant/entrenched candidates/parties setting up tables while other law abiding people are disallowed. According to the Lok Satta leaders, the CEO appreciated the Lok Satta Party concerns and offered to provide clarifications. UNI