MUMBAI: The Election Commission of India will send letters to 26 lakh voters across the state whose names were deleted from the electoral list during the last revision, so that they can re-enrol before the state assembly elections. The final voters' list will be made public on July 31, but citizens can enrol themselves up to 10 days before the last day for filing of nominations for the assembly elections.
Chief election commissioner V S Sampath, along with his deputies and other senior officials, was on a two-day visit to the city to review preparations for the state assembly polls that are likely to be held mid-October. Sampath said festivals, examinations and monsoon were cited as difficulties for campaigning by parties, many of whom sought to postpone the elections.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sampath said, in the summary revision of voters' list held in the last one month, 19 lakh voters across Maharashtra have been added. The state has 8.06 crore voters on the electoral rolls. Sampath said it was a matter of concern that only 30% of the youth in the 18-19 year age group were enrolled. The gender disparity in Maharashtra was 5% much higher than that of the all-India figure of 2%.
"This time, voter identity slips in urban areas will be distributed much in advance than the stipulated time period of five days before the polls," said Sampath, adding that during the Lok Sabha elections, only 30-40% of the slips were actually delivered.
He said that arrangements are being made to ensure that officials on polling duty can vote through the postal ballot. Similarly, for defence personnel, local enrolment will be allowed for which the EC will coordinate with the cantonment board authorities. The EC also wants to increase voting in Mumbai, which had touched 54% during the Lok Sabha elections.
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