As part of the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls, officials from the Election Commission visited the apartment complex where we stay. Several notifications were sent by the administrative staff encouraging the residents to come and get their names verified in the electoral rolls.
My parents and I took the required documents we had and went to the designated area where the officials were seated processing the rolls.
My parents' names were not on the rolls. They had their Electoral ID cards and their Aadhaar cards but their names were not on the rolls. My name was there on the rolls. I was thrilled for a moment before being told that I still needed to fill out a form. I asked for the required form. The lady there said "Ramya Grounds". I said what that was. She said I had to go to another office supposedly in a location called Ramya Grounds. I asked her you have my name on your rolls, so why should I go to another office? The lady curtly responded, "Ramya Grounds". No other explanation was offered.
I gave up. My parents had given up long back.
The attitude of the officials was as if we had somehow committed some mistake and we had to atone for it. They did not come across as even slightly helpful. They looked like they just wanted to wash their hands off the process and get out of there as soon as possible.
When the next election comes, I will make one attempt to go to the regular polling booth and cast my vote. If they don't allow me saying my name is not on the rolls, I am going to say, "Balls!" and get out of there. I have enough battles to fight and can do without one more.
To those who allege that members of a particular community are being targeted in this exercise, I highly doubt if the officials being sent for this task have that much intellectual ability to selectively target anyone. The mandate seems to be get as many people out of the electoral process as possible by making it as difficult as possible.
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