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Minor hiccups reported during voting

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Despite the Election Commission ensuring what was mostly a hassle-free polling day for Delhi voters, there were scattered reports of minor hiccups faced by voters here.

The highest number of such complaints were over the allotment of wrong polling booths not matching with the electoral rolls.

"I had registered my name in the electoral rolls, but I could not cast my vote at the polling booth mentioned on my slip because my name was later found listed at some other booth. Too much chaos it was," said Anukul, an undergraduate who had come to vote at a polling booth in the Matiala area.
 

Another girl, Shubhangi, too, faced a similar problem, and in the same constituency.

At several places, voters who were not carrying a valid identity proof besides the voter's slip faced hurdles in casting their vote.

In New Delhi constituency's Laxmi Nagar polling station, one Sandeep Singh (30) was initially not allowed to cast his vote as he failed to provide an identity proof along with his voter slip.

"Despite my name being on the electoral roll, I was not allowed to vote as I was not carrying any identity proof. The instructions at the back of the voter's slip do not mention any requirement for such proof," said Sandeep.

He was later allowed to cast his ballot after he sought the intervention of the senior officials at the polling booth.

A few voters also complained about the lack of drinking water facilities at polling booths in the Madipur, Rohini and Rithala.

Voters who had shifted residence within the same constituency said they were unable to vote despite having their addresses updated in the EC records.

"I was living in AE Block of Shalimar Bagh for long, but now have shifted to AD block. However, despite the necessary changes being registered with EC, my name was nowhere on the electoral rolls at either polling booth," said Surender Dagar.

In another incident in Matia Mahal constituency, local shopkeepers are said to have gone on a dharna to protest against orders asking them to shutter their shops near the polling stations.

Alleged Akram Khan, president of the local traders' body, "We held a dharna as we were forced to shut the shops within 200- metre radius of the polling stations with the officials citing security reasons. Later, police allowed us to partly open pharmacy shops and eating joints as this place is filled with tourists.

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First Published: Feb 07 2015 | 8:00 PM IST

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