Notices to be issued to 2.47 lakh voters in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi

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Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan speaking at a press conference at Praja Soudha in Mangaluru on Monday. Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju is seen. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa at a press conference at Rajatadri in Udupi on Monday. | Photo Credit: UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

From Tuesday, notices will be issued to 1.5 lakh voters in Dakshina Kannada district and 97,697 in Udupi district, who are unmapped and those found having discrepancy in names and other details in the electoral rolls. These voters are part of the draft electoral rolls published on Monday, following digitalisation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) enumeration forms.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan said unmapped means voters who have failed to give details about their names or that of their parents or grandparents in the 2002 electoral rolls. There are also differences in the name, age, and other details between the present electoral rolls and that of 2002. Notices are being served to map and also resolve discrepancies.

The notices will be issued by Booth Level Officers and voters will be called on a date to produce documents before the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO). Mr. Darshan said documents that can be produced include identity card issued for government employee or a pensioner or the Pension Payment Order. Any identity card, declaration letter, or document related to bank account, post office, local government, LIC, issued before July 7, 1987, can also be produced. Birth certificate issued by designated authority, passport, Class 10 marks card, education certificate, forests rights declaration certificate, caste certificate, copy of family register, copy of land or site allotted by the government, and Permanent Residency Certificate, can be produced.

“These documents are indicative not exhaustive,” Mr. Darshan said and added that the AEROs have been given liberty to accept all documents that help map the voter or clear discrepancy. Those questioning exclusion of their names in the draft roll by notifying as absent, shifted, duplicate, and dead can also submit their claims.

The AEROs will have to decide on discrepancies, unmapped voters, and other claims by October 22. The final SIR electoral roll will be out on October 27.

To aid speedy and effective hearing of claims, Mr. Darshan said services of 154 Group B officers will be taken as AEROs, in addition to eight designated AEROs. The AEROs will be hearing voters at the gram panchayat.

Of the total of 18.03 lakh voters in Dakshina Kannada, enumeration forms of 16.46 lakh voters were digitalised and they were part of the draft roll. A total of 1.57 lakh voters have been left out, which included 45,318 who were dead, 82,988 permanently shifted, 15,395 already enrolled in other parts of the State, and 11,124 who were absent.

In Udupi district, of the 10.63 lakh voters, 10 lakh voters are part of the draft roll following digitalisation of their enumeration forms.