DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 16 (MExN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) today appealed to the people of Nagaland to consider the options available to them towards participating in the coming elections in a free and fair manner.
A press note from the Chief Electoral Officer informed that the commission has been pursuing all eligible citizens / residents of Nagaland to be registered in the Electoral Roll.
The CEC noted that for the first time the department has identified Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) of different categories in the electoral roll like locomotor disability, speech & hearing disability, visually impaired and others.
As per special provisions, they will be given priority entries in polling stations to cast vote without waiting in queues. Even other unidentified PwD voters will be given priority entries provided they produce Disability Id Cards to the presiding officers. In addition, octogenarians and older voters, pregnant women voters identified by Anganwadi workers etc. and women voters with babies in arms shall be given precedence over other voters for casting votes.
The CEC also informed that the Department has taken up with the government of Nagaland to provide amenities like drinking water, electricity, ramps for PwD voters, toilets and waiting shed for all voters in queues.
The CEC also noted the ‘Clean Election Campaigns’ carried out by church bodies, NGOs and students’ organizations; and hoped that “with support and cooperation of all stakeholders, we can improve our performance this time.”
The ECI, the CEC said targets to increase the qualitative participation of the electorate in terms of ethical and informed voting and of providing continuous electoral and democracy education to the people so that electoral malpractices and corrupt practices including inducement of voters and resorting to use of muscle and liquor influences by candidates and political parties in electioneering are done away with.
He urged voters to abstain from inducement like cash, gift, liquor or community feast organized for campaign purpose during election process as the receiver is also punishable with one year imprisonment and fine under Section 171B of Indian Penal Code.
The CEC meanwhile informed that voters may collect evidence of malpractices, capture such photos, videos, audios of malpractices and to upload the same to the DEO’s website / CEO’s website and the control room or inform authorities by any other means confidentially so that action may be taken.
Voters informed on identification process
The Election Commission has meanwhile issued an order with relation to identification of electors. A press note from the CEO Nagaland informed electors who have been issued EPICs to produce the same at the polling stations before casting their votes.
Those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall have to produce one of the following alternative photo identity documents—passport; driving license; service identity cards with photograph issued by Central/State Govt. PSUs/Public Limited Companies; passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office; PAN Card; Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR; MNREGA Job Card; Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour; pension document with photograph, authenticated photo voter slip issued by the election machinery; official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs; and Aadhaar Card.
The Commission further informed that clerical errors, spelling mistakes, etc. should be ignored provided the identity of the elector can be established by EPIC. EPIC issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly Constituency can also be accepted provided the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting.
Finally, if it is not possible to establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, etc. the elector shall have to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned above.
The commission also informed that overseas electors who are registered in the electoral rolls under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, based on the particulars in their passport, shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only (and no other identity document) in the polling station.
