Amaravati: Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh Gopalakrishna Dwivedi told representatives of political parties on Friday that the scrutiny of bogus voters in the state will be complete and the voters list finalised.

He suggested that all those who turned 18 by January 1, 2019 should enrol themselves in the electoral rolls. The CEO of Andhra Pradesh commented that there were 18 lakh youth who were in the age group of 18-20 years and that only 5.39 lakh youth were enrolled as voters.

Dwivedi said that awareness programmes were being conducted asking eligible voters to get themselves enrolled. Ambati Rambabu represented the YSR Congress Party at the meeting. Later, the CEO addressed media persons. He said that having a voter card was not enough to exercise one’s franchise.

A voter would not be eligible to vote without the name being enrolled in the voters’ list. Therefore it was necessary for all eligible voters to get their names and rolled immediately in the electoral rolls, the CEO said.

He clarified that it was not necessary for the voter card to be linked to Aadhaar. Dwivedi pointed out that while there were 6.19 lakh beneficiaries of pension for the disabled, only 3.29 lakh names were present in the voters list.

The differently-abled would be provided wheelchairs and all other help to facilitate voting, Dwivedi remarked. The CEO of Andhra Pradesh said that EVM machines were ready for the upcoming elections.

As regards complaints on malpractices in electoral rolls he said that corrective steps would be taken. An app would be created with numbers of representatives of all political parties, he added.

Senior party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu said that with regard to the complaint lodged by the YSR Congress party leaders Dwivedi assured them that an inquiry has begun into bogus voters.

He told the YSRCP leader that it would be completed in 15 days. The YSR Congress party spokesman told media persons that party leaders from across the political spectrum had made various representations and suggestions to the CEO on the subject of electoral rolls.

Also Read: HC To Hear Petition On Bogus Voters In AP