80.88 % voters issued EPICs so far: Gopalaswami

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Dehra Dun, Jan 23 (UNI) Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami today announced that 80.88 per cent voters in Uttarakhand have been issued Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) for Assembly elections in the state to be held on February 21.

After reviewing the arrangements for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, along with Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Qureshi, Mr Gopalaswami told mediapersons that the process to issue EPICs was still going on. He said the Election Commission (EC) would also look into other alternative documents for voting and would take decision after reviewing the process on February 7.

So far the voters of the capital have been issued with the least number of EPICs. ''As many as 679,374 voters out of 929,347 (73.10 per cent) has been issued EPICs,'' he disclosed, adding that the number of voters in Uttarakhand has increased to 604,2629 this time against 5269,832 electors in the last election. Sufficient numbers of Electronic Voting Machines have been arranged and stress was being given on its training, he added.

Mr Gopalaswami said to ensure free and fair poll in the state and looking into the shortage of police force, the EC would deploy additional 4,500 police personnel and 11,000 Home Guards from Uttar Pradesh and other states in election duties. To avoid entry of anti-social elements from other states during the polling, the police administration has been directed to hold meeting of high level officials with police of the neighbouring state and take necessary measures. ''So far 451 non-bailable warrant have been issued to the persons with criminal record,'' he said.

Mr Goplalaswami apprised that in all, 13 FIRs have been registered against violation of Model Code of Conduct. When asked whether EC would take action against them, he said ''It is judiciaries prerogative''.

UNI

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