Two weeks ahead of the elections,most voters without identity cards

Even as the Lok Sabha elections are just two weeks away,it looks like the voters will have to do without identity cards. The software required for issuing these cards are not functional and the deadline for issuing these cards are over. Though the election department had attempted to issue these cards in February itself they couldn’t and they even informed the election office. “Nothing has been done so far,” said an official at the election department.

They are hopeful that the process would be completed at least for the assembly elections. “There are hardly any days left and it is not possible to issue such a large number,” added the official. Due to delimitation exercise,the serial number of the voters had changed and in the absence of the software,there was total mismatch between the photographs on the card and the details.

Among the 60 lakh voters registered after two supplementary lists,only 29.67 lakh voters have their identity cards and the election department had plans to distribute another four lakh but now it is not possible,said the officer. According to the election department,the officials have almost finished scanning the cards but the process of preparing the cards remains stuck for want of software. According to the election commission,the election identity card is mandatory,as it would help in the easy identification of voters. The election commission directives mention that all voters have to procure their I-D cards.

However,because of the software problem,the city might have to go without it,said the official.