Karnataka 2013: Deleted names caught voters unaware

Karnataka may have registered a record turn out in the Assembly elections held on 5 May but a large section of the electorate returned home disappointed unable to press the electronic voting machines as they could not find their names in the voter list. Ironically, many among them were those who had voted in previous elections. “I’ve been here all my life and I’m 61 years. I’ve voted here for several years at the same polling station,” a voter who failed to exercise his right to franchise told NDTV.[caption id=“attachment_758521” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Voting issues. AFP[/caption] Anticipating a situation like this the Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), had even approached the Karnataka High Court to ensure that all eligible voters have their names included in the electoral rolls. “Yes I am very disappointed because we had gone and met the chief electoral officer of Karnataka and told him that 13 lakh people have been removed from the electoral list for whatever reason… went to the High Court, it gave an order and many names were restored. I guess some things have slipped through the cracks,” BPAC member Mohandas Pai told NDTV.