Tepid response to EJH voters’ enrolment

JOWAI: The enrolment drive for young voters that started in East Jaintia Hills on July 1 has received tepid response, said the district’s additional deputy commissioner, SS Syiemlieh.
The drive is for first-time voters between the age of 18 and 21. “We have appointed 120 block level officers to enroll eligible voters on July 8 and we are organising the same on Saturday,” Syiemlieh said and added that booth level officers are going door to door for awareness.
The district election officer has requested eligible voters to spare their time for enrolment on Saturday.
Voters can enroll their names in the voter list by submitting form-6 applications at electoral registration offices, post office and online internet applications particularly for those students who are pursuing higher studies outside the State.
Documents required are age proof certificate, either birth or school certificate. For those who are never to school, their parents can declare their age or date of birth in the prescribed forms in order to get enrolled.
Discrepancies in voters’ list
The district election office has detected discrepancies in the voters’ list in east Jaintia Hills. When the registered voters’ list was checked and compared with the village population, it was found that the voters are more than the village population in some villages.
Two constituencies are in EJH, Sutnga and Khliehriat. In Sutnga, of the 35,717 voters registered, there are 3460 deficit voters of age group between 18-19 and 20-29. There are also 4,579 excess voters which is more than the population. The surplus enrolment is in the age group between 30-39 and 70-79.
In Khliehriat, excess are in ten polling stations — Moolamanoh, Byrwai, Rymbai Pohskur, Lumshyrmit, Pamrakmai, Rangad, Lumskhen, Nongsning, Wapungskur B and Khliehriat West B with an overall excess is 3,218. There are also 1,084 double entries (dual votes).