The Chief Electoral Officer, Tamilnadu had announced that on 9th March 2014 the Electoral Rolls (voters lists) can be seen in the respective polling stations and those who do not find their names included in it could give on the spot applications in the prescribed format for to the personnel. After return from Delhi last year, I had registered online in October 2013 for inclusion in the electoral rolls. I had received an email too confirming receipt of the application. However, whenever I checked up the status on weekly basis I was only getting a message that data entry was yet to be done. I was curious to know whether the rolls made available on 9th March would have incorporated my name. Unfortunately, that was not the case and I downloaded the forms from the website of TN Elections and submitted the applications of my wife and myself in the polling booth. I do not know whether any action will be taken and whether we can exercise our franchise during the General Elections 2014. There was only one lady official in the polling station and I admired her patience. She was surrounded by people anxious to know how to find their names, how to change their addresses and how to register afresh as in our cases. She had no assistance whatsoever and did a tremendous job in not losing her temper and trying her best to receive the applications and at the same time reply to other questions. I am certain that she would not have had time to grab her lunch. Except that I do not know what will happen to the hundreds of applications collected on the day, just a few weeks before the elections. Many people complained that they had applied for registration online, as I had done, and no action had been taken. But the silver lining was that hundreds of citizens turned up to verify whether their names are available in the electoral rolls and most of them belonged to the middle and upper classes. I witnessed a steady stream of cars, motor bikes, scooters and cycles reaching the polling station at least till lunch time. Youngsters, in the age group of 18 to 20 or so were keen to know whether their names appear in the rolls. Some good samaritans, including me, distributed a few photo copies of the forms which disappeared in no time at all. The enthusiasm I saw that day among the citizens, young and old, augurs well for our democracy which is now acknowledged as having reached a level of maturity not seen even in older democracies across the globe. But, whether the CEO, Tamilnadu, will be able to cope with the work of ensuring that the eligible are enrolled so that they can participate in the biggest and most important general elections ever will remain a big question mark. After all, it is easy to address the media every day but difficult to goad the administrative machinery into action.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:49:42 +0000