The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Kancheepuram News : Getting the vote right

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 15, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Kancheepuram

Getting the vote right

R.K. Radhakrishnan

The octogenarian voter found another use for her pension papers

KANCHEEPURAM: At seven this morning, eighty-two-year-old Subbu was agitated. "They are not letting me vote," she complained to anyone who would listen outside the MGR Nutritious Noon meal centre polling booth on Lingappar Street.

"I have come early so that I can beat the heat. Then they do this to me," she said aloud, to no one in particular. Just then she spotted the Kancheepuram range DIG, S.G. Rajendran, walking towards the booth. "Will he help me," she asked a constable. He nodded: "He is a big officer."

Subbu made her way past the columns of policemen to meet Mr. Rajendran. "I have this slip [of paper]," she told the officer, giving him a piece of paper one of the political parties had given her. "My name is on the rolls. I have voted before. Everyone knows me. Then why don't you let me vote," she asked.

Mr. Rajendran explained to her that the piece of paper was not enough. "You have to prove beyond doubt that you are the person whose name has been printed in the electoral roll," he said. For this, she — like everyone else — had to bring some sort of identification, he explained. "At my age what kind of identification do you want," Subbu shot back.

Mr. Rajendran asked her if she had a pension paper or a ration card. Subbu said that she had the pension papers. "But should I bring that now," she asked.

When the officer nodded, Subbu reluctantly walked back, home. Later, she came to cast her vote, armed with the pension papers, a police officer on duty at the booth said.

Mr. Rajendran said that no one was let near the booth without a valid identification. "There could be no exceptions," he said.

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