For all the people who got on to voter lists, there are others who couldn't, no matter how hard they tried. MiD DAY journalist Rita Ghose being one of them, tracks down others as disappointed as herself
For all the people who got on to voter lists, there are others who couldn't, no matter how hard they tried. MiD DAY journalist Rita Ghose being one of them, tracks down others as disappointed as herself
Navna Dewan (21) student of Mass Communication, Andheri
I filled the voter's registration form twice: once in December and once about a month ago. The first time was at Bhavan's College, Andheri and I was told I would be registered by February but it did not happen. I again filled the forms when volunteers came to my building with forms. When the list was put up online, I was shocked that my name was still not there. I went to the electorate office, but still my name wasn't there. I am disgusted as I will not be able to vote this year along with seven-eight others in my building. It must have been done on purpose.
Colonel (retd) Dr Clifton Marques (55), chief manager co-ordinator, DLF, Malad
I went to the electorate office for a form. I was told, "Saheb office madhi nahi (Sir is not in office)." This was a weekday. The second time, on a Sunday, my church announced that we should go and register ourselves that very day. So I went again. Again I was denied a form. This time they said, "Fakt voter id card milnar. Baad mein aa jana. (You will only get a voter id card, come later)". This happened around February. I didn't get time to go back. The Election Commission should understand that people don't have the time to visit them repeatedly. They should be able to register a voter anytime of the year.
Farhin Khan (25), IT professional, Andheri
I got the form online and submitted it at Andheri Sport's Complex on the last day of registering as a voter, March 31. I had a little issue entering information on a person in my building or from my family who is a registered voter. So the volunteers helped with that. I am still waiting to see my name on the list. I tried checking online but couldn't open the pdf file. I went to check with the officer and he said your name may not be on the list but we will give you a slip to enable you to vote. However, it is a little difficult to keep going for the slip and then going again and voting. Something must be done for people with busy schedules. I have another friend who was not able to submit her form, as her work timings didn't allow her to go and submit her form between 11 am and 5 pm. 
Rita Ghose (24), MiD DAY journalist
In the first week of January, I went to my Election Registration office. An officer there said, "We can't take the form till January 20. The voter registration programme hasn't started yet."u00a0
I got a form off jaagore.com and went to the ERO again, but they said I could not submit it before January 20.
On January 20 again I was denied a registration. Finally I called up Chief Electoral officer Debashish Chakrabarty. He said, "There will be continual updating of the list till the elections. Those who want to register will have to visit their ERO."
When I went back to the ERO on January 22, the ERO officer said, "You will only be able to submit the form from February 15 onwards." They gave no reason. I met a few people right outside the ERO office. One lady in her 50's who did not want to be named said she had been making rounds to the ERO for a year and couldn't get herself registered. 
Ayesha Nair (22), MiD DAY journalist
I got the form from jaagore.com. It needed to be attested, but I did not know that. I couldn't go because of my work timings, so my father went to submit the form along with all documents. They did not accept the form as it was not attested. So my father had to make another trip to their office, this time with the attested form. But when I checked www.ceo.maharashtra.gov.in for my name on the electoral list, the only reply I got was criteria not found.
Fashutana Patel (22), MiD DAY journalist
I registered at jaagore.com in early December and when I submitted my registration form to the electorate office, I got an SMS from the website. The message stated that my form had been received. After that, there was not a single word about the status of my form. I checked on the election commission website if my name was there on the voters' list, however it only showed results in the negative. I was told that there is a second list on April 27. I hope there is a second list and my name features on it, as I am eager to cast my vote.
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