Conducting elections in India is one
of the most challenging tasks. I appreciate efforts of Election Commission and
those who are involved into the functions related to parliamentary elections.
It is a massive exercise and it generates a series of learning for people like
us.
Long back, when I became eligible for
voting, I was excited with the idea of fulfilling National Duty by voting.
However for many years, I could not register myself as a voter. Initially I did
not have the necessary papers (like residential proof). When I had one, it so
happened that during every election year, I shifted from the city from where I
registered myself as voter. At last, in 2004, I was able to vote and did vote
in subsequent elections – Loksabha, Assembly, Municipal Corporation.
As I had voted in 2009 Loksabha
elections, I was sure that my name would be there in the voters’ list – as my
residential address remains the same over the years. However, to check, I
visited this page:
Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra
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Electoral Roll Search (मतदार यादीत नाव शोधणे)
Prepared By : Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra |
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Search
In English मराठीत शोधा
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Id
Wise Name
Wise
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YOU ARE VISITER NUMBER :
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3140262
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I searched and could not find my name.
So, Plan B. Go to Online
registration.
Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra
Greater Participation for a Stronger Democracy
Online Voter Registration
Inclusion of names for residents
electors
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Inclusion of names for overseas
electors
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Any objection on inclusion of names)
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Correction of entries in the
Electoral Rolls
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Transposition within Assembly
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I opened Form 6,
registered myself, received password and then filled form by logging in. We need a photograph, residential proof and
birth date proof. I had photograph and the scanned copies (in PDF) of the two
required documents. When I moved to the second page, I realized that the two
documents are needed in jpeg format and not PDF. I logged out, without
completing the form.
Next day, I had
the two documents photographed, saved jpeg to laptop and filled the form.
After few days, I
checked my name in the voters’ list, it still did not appear.
Today, I read in
the newspaper about the drive – voters can check their names by using toll free
number 1950. Well, the number was not working.
The other option
was to visit the polling booth and check the name in the lists. If the name is without photograph, we can
submit photograph. If the name is not in the list, submit form 6.
I went to the
school – polling booth. Behind the desk 3 -4 people were sitting and many
people around were frantically searching lists in their hands.
There were
number of lists; each list had a specific number – something like Ward number.
For getting correct list, you needed to know Ward number. I did not know that.
So, I told the name of the residential complex and asked for the list. The
person behind the desk also did not know. She said, “Tell me the number and I
will give you the list.”
I thought it was
better to fill up a new form. So, I went to another queue and asked for the
form. The lady said, “No forms.” She complained that they were provided only 10
forms. She also complained that on
Sunday they were made to work.
Someone in the next
queue asked me to go to the office of Corporater (elected representative to
Municipal Corporation) and get the form. I did not know the office. With little
efforts, I was able to search the office and get a blank 6A Form. I returned to
the school. In the mean time there were more people; more lists more questions,
more desperation, more criticism, but no system. It was all confusion.
Then I was told
that the photocopies of the document need to be attested. Now, where on earth
do I get that?
Poor staff. They
had hardly anything under control. Poor people, they would have to spend so
much time for simple things like registering themselves – which is their right.
It only shows the
kind of challenge Election Commission is handling.
One more aspect I
realized that political parties are working only through social and mainstream
media. There is a lot of hype in the media. But where are the political parties
who are helping voters to register, to ensure that their name is in the voting
list? The political activists are completely missing on the ground – especially
when the leader is not around.
