04-06-2007, 03:02 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Overzealous poll staff keep voters at bay </b>
Pioneer.com
Neelam Pandey/ Durgesh Nandan Jha | New Delhi
Voters with identity documents denied right to vote n Despite heat, open offices, Delhi records 45% turnout
Senior citizens on wheel-chairs made to walk to polling booths n Large number of EVMs fail to function
The over zealous attitude of the State Election Commission (SEC) kept the voters away from the polling booths dering MCD election held on Thursday.
While the SEC kept talking about its several measures like delimitation and the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the fact is that these measures rather created difficulties in the smooth functioning of the election. The SEC has even notified re-polling at 10 polling stations, which is happening for the first time in the history of civic elections.
The voter turnout remained around 45 per cent. When asked about the reason behind the low turnout State Election Commissioner (SEC) was at a loss of words and termed it 'incomprehensible', though some blamed it on heat.
The SEC would have found an answer to the question if he moved out of his office and witnessed 'bandobast' at polling stations.
With the Central Government officers not been given an off on the polling day, a sizeable number of voters simply could not find it feasible to vote while they were working. While the old were kept away 'by strict rules' not allowing their wheelchairs inside the booth and being forced to park their cars at a distance from the polling station, the young were stopped from voting on the basis that they did not have photo identification card issued by the election commission.Â
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Pioneer.com
Neelam Pandey/ Durgesh Nandan Jha | New Delhi
Voters with identity documents denied right to vote n Despite heat, open offices, Delhi records 45% turnout
Senior citizens on wheel-chairs made to walk to polling booths n Large number of EVMs fail to function
The over zealous attitude of the State Election Commission (SEC) kept the voters away from the polling booths dering MCD election held on Thursday.
While the SEC kept talking about its several measures like delimitation and the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the fact is that these measures rather created difficulties in the smooth functioning of the election. The SEC has even notified re-polling at 10 polling stations, which is happening for the first time in the history of civic elections.
The voter turnout remained around 45 per cent. When asked about the reason behind the low turnout State Election Commissioner (SEC) was at a loss of words and termed it 'incomprehensible', though some blamed it on heat.
The SEC would have found an answer to the question if he moved out of his office and witnessed 'bandobast' at polling stations.
With the Central Government officers not been given an off on the polling day, a sizeable number of voters simply could not find it feasible to vote while they were working. While the old were kept away 'by strict rules' not allowing their wheelchairs inside the booth and being forced to park their cars at a distance from the polling station, the young were stopped from voting on the basis that they did not have photo identification card issued by the election commission.Â
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