EC to send 'Meghdoot' postcards to 3 lakh voters in Puducherry

In a unique initiative, the Election Commission will be sending out 'Meghdoot' postcards to three lakh voters requesting them to cast their votes in the May 16 Assembly polls in the Union Territory.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Puducherry R T Rudra Goud today launched the posting of Meghdoot postcards covering three lakh voters in Puducherry district with the request.
He handed the cards to 30 postmen here at the Head Post office which carry the message by the EC to the voters.
Speaking to reporters, Goud said the drive was to ensure that voters in constituencies which registered low polling percentage in the last election turn up in overwhelming numbers.

The cards are also being sent to first time voters with an appeal to exercise their franchise, he said.
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Meawhile,election authorities today launched distribution of booth slips to voters through booth level officers.
All voters in Union Territory would be issued the slips by May 11 as per directions of the Election Commission, District Election officer P Jawahar said.
The electorate can exercise their franchise on production of the slips at the polling station on election day and those who had not received them could approach the concerned Booth Level officersto get the slips.
With a view to enabling government staff deployed for election duty to exercise their franchise,election authorities have set up voting facilitation centres with postal ballot boxes at the eight training centres.

A total of 8,248 officers have been drafted for poll duty and they can exercise their franchise through postal ballots. They can alternatively also send the ballots through post.
These postal votes would be opened on counting day (May 19) and the Election commission has sent the postal ballots for the service voters.