Vol 12, Issue 20

Page 1

Vol. 12 Issue 20

Indian Institute Of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore

April 04, 2013

VOTES FOR FOOD? Voters without ID cards escorted from homes to the polls in return for food and clothes By Hansa V

Minors and people without official voter ID cards have been casting votes in state elections, we can reveal. One 63-year-old woman claims she has voted for the past 40 years without a card and that BJP officials come to her home to take her to the polls in return for clothes. Another 21-year-old man said he has been voting in elections from the age of 16. The legal voting age in India is 18. An investigation by the Observer found six people in a single day’s canvassing who spoke frankly about voting in return for goods or who were told to vote by a political party. None of the six has voter ID cards. The District Election Officer Siddaiah said that people cannot vote without a voter ID card and a voter slip would be given to people when they produce the ID card at the booth on May 5. He was speaking after a statement by Chief Election Commissioner, Anil Kumar Jha, about people not requiring an ID card to vote which is in contrast to what the guidelines of the Election Commission(EC) states, which is : “You should note that mere possession of an EPIC issued to you does not guarantee you your vote, because it is mandatory that your name should appear in the electoral roll. “Once you have found out that your name is there in the electoral roll and you also possess an identification document prescribed by the Election Commission (EPIC or others), you are entitled to vote.” The guidelines prescribed by the EC also state that “The Election Commission of India has made voter identification

mandatory at the time of poll. “The electors have to identify themselves with either Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Commission or any other documentary proof as prescribed by the Commission.” Documentary proofs as accepted by the Election Commission of India include either a Voter ID or an EPIC ID which has been sealed and approved by the Election Commission. With state assembly elections looming in Karnataka, the state Election Commission has been continuously on the wrong side of the people’s books. Beginning with the spark created by the Ex-Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, stating that names have been deleted from the electoral list out of spite, the Election Commission is already in a mess even before the elections begin in earnest. According to a survey conducted by The Observer, it was found that at least five people are present in each constituency who has either cast a vote without a voter ID card or they have cast a vote even though they are not legally of age to do so. On asking if they are given anything in cash or kind, they state that they were asked not to reveal anything about the illegal-voting to anybody and are given something in kind such as clothes or food (raw rice/pulses). Shanthamma, 63, a resident staying near Vinayaka Talkies, said: “I have not applied for my voter ID till now. Somehow, I manage to vote in the elections without the card. It has been over forty years now since I have been voting without a voter ID card.

INNOCENT YET ILLEGAL VOTERS Shanthamma, 63, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID for the past 40 years. They let me vote in return for kindness such as clothes and food. “

Gangaraj, 21, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID since I was 16. They let me vote even though it is illegal to vote as a minor.”

Manjula, 27, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I voted last two elections without a voter ID or an EPIC card. They said they will give me clothes if I vote for BJP.”

Nagaratna, 31, Kalasipalaya Constituency, said: “I have been asking for a voter ID for over ten years now. They have been telling me they would let me vote without one and they did let me vote. ”

N Munipoojappa, 45, Kalasipalaya Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID for the last 15 years. Everytime I apply for one, they tell me that it is not necessary for me.”

Chinnamallamma, 42, Kalasipalaya Constituency said: “I have never seen a voter ID in my life. I simply go and give my thumb impression just like how those people ask me to do. ”


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