EC to issue EPIC by Sept in AP

Hyderabad, Jun 16 (UNI) The Election Commission will issue Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to all the 5.45 crore voters in the state by September in view of the coming elections to the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

State Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao told reporters here today that the election machinery was fully prepared to carry out the gigantic exercise and complete the process by August end in all constituencies except in bypoll-bound districts, where the EPIC would be distributed by September end.

By logging on to ceoandhra.nic.in, citizens could ascertain whether there were any discrepancies and initiate corrective measures with the Joint Collectors, appointed as nodal officers for the purpose. Those who did not have access to internet could dial the toll free number 1100 for the purpose, he added.

Intensive enumeration of householders would be completed by July 14 and draft publication of electoral rolls would be made on July 23. Filing of claims and objections would be entertained from July 24 to August eight and final rolls would be published on August 31, he said.

In the constituencies, where byelections were held on May 29, enumeration of householders would be completed by August 24, and draft publication of electoral rolls would be made on September five. Claims and objections would be entertained till September 19 and final rolls would be published on September 30.

Under a pilot project, the distribution of EPIC cards was first taken up in Hyderabad and 84.74 per cent of voters were covered under the photo roll programme, he added.

UNI SM SJ RL BST2039