Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office has directed election officials to let adult family members appear on behalf of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sick persons and overseas electors during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Separately, ECI has also planned a second special campaign on Sept 19 and 20 for voters who have turned 18 but do not have an EPIC card. The instructions have been circulated to officials concerned in all the 224 assembly constituencies. The CEO office has also released photos and videos of officers reaching out to vulnerable voters to help them enrol.
The CEO office has asked the district election officer (DEO) Bengaluru, the Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), DEOs and deputy commissioners across the state, and additional DEOs of BBMP Central, North and South election districts to instruct EROs and AEROs.
The family member must appear before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or assistant ERO with the necessary documents. The decision follows requests from voters and political parties, after the Election Commission on Friday permitted the arrangement.
The move is expected to ease pressure on vulnerable voters, but elderly and unwell citizens continued to queue up at hearing centres through the week, exposing a gap between the order and its implementation on the ground.