For voters` relief

A helpdesk is being created at Sector 19 to rectify mistakes in voter I-cards after the elections.

After receiving repeated complaints about mistakes in voter I-cards from the residents of Noida, the district administration has decided to open a helpdesk at Sector 19 immediately after the elections, where these mistakes will be corrected on the spot.
 Reportedly, the administration has clarified that all the voters whose voter I-cards are faulty will be allowed to cast their votes by showing alternate documents such as driving licenses and PAN cards as long as they have the voter slips that will be handed over by the administration five days prior to the polls.
 According to the residents, voter I-cards distributed among them are full of flaws like incomplete addresses, wrongly spelt names and dates of birth. Multiple visits to the electoral registration office to get the identity cards rectified have been adding to the woes of the residents. "My name and surname have been changed in the voter I-card and even my residential address is incomplete. I was very irritated but with the authorities' assurance, I can now cast my vote on the basis of my driving licence," said Savita Rani, a resident of Sector 24.
 As per the administration's records, around 60,000 new voter I-cards have been distributed in Gautam Budh Nagar district this time ahead of the assembly elections. At least 40 per cent of these cards are riddled with mistakes like incomplete addresses, incorrect or wrongly spelt names and dates of birth. Common mistakes in about 90 per cent of the I-cards have occurred in columns pertaining to names, residential address, relationship and date of birth.
 DM Hirdesh Kumar said, "The step has been taken to correct anomalies and save residents from the trouble of filling up numerous forms and run from one centre to another."
 Kumar added, "We had received several complaints regarding mistakes in voter I-cards. There is a provision of filling up Form No. 8 and submitting the same at Jan Suvidha Kendra in Sector 19 or at electoral registration centre at collectorate in Greater Noidafor getting mistakes rectified. However, those who wish to avoid filling forms can go to Sector 19 centre after the polls."

Send SMS to know polling booth
Voters in the district can now get information about their polling booths by just sending an SMS. To avail this facility, voters will need to send their voter I-card number to 9212357123 and within minutes, they will receive an SMS containing the details.
 "This service will facilitate voters in casting their votes easily. This facility will help a voter find his/her name on the roll, the serial number at the booth, the location of the booth and the address," said Hirdesh Kumar, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar. "First-time voters are expected to benefit the most by this service. Even senior citizens will find the facility useful as delimitation has changed existing constituencies and left many in doubt over their polling booths," Kumar said.