Udupi: Election Commission Sets a Target to Reach 80 % Voters Turnout

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 13 Apr 2013: The voters’ turnout in the past elections across the district has been around 65 to 70 percent, while the target has been set to surpass 80 percent in the upcoming assembly elections.  The Election Commission has introduced an innovative project – SWEEP to help more number of voters to cast their valuable votes, said zilla panchayat CEO S A Prabhakar Sharma.

 

Prabhakar Sharma was speaking during the training programme on use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for election officers and master trainers at ZP auditorium here on Friday April 12.

 

 

The district administration has assigned 7,000 government employees including teachers, different department officers, drivers and police personnel related to election duty across the district, said Prabhakar.  He also advised all the government employees who are engaged in poll duty to exercise their franchisee through postal voting.

 

Over 50 percent of postal votes by government staff become invalid due to lack of information, said Prabhakar.  He also urged the sector officers and master trainees to educate the poll staff on postal voting.  He explained significance of different forms that are used in postal voting.

 

The sector officers are responsible to train the polling staff on EVMS and also restore technical difficulties, besides to take action against breach of poll conduct in their jurisdiction.  They are authorized to report to electioneering officer and if necessary lodge complaints at the police stations, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar.

 

The district master trainee Ashok Kamat offered training on use of EVMs to sector officers and other staff who are assigned the poll duty.