The first day of special voter enrollment camps organized by the Election Commission across Coimbatore district witnessed a notably low public turnout on Saturday, December 27. These camps are a crucial part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, allowing citizens to submit objections, make corrections, or register as new voters following the publication of the draft roll on December 19.
Residents Act to Rectify Omissions and Changes
Despite the overall low footfall, several individuals whose names were missing from the draft roll visited the designated polling stations. The camps at locations like Kavundampalayam saw particular activity. A significant number of attendees submitted Form 6 to register as entirely new voters. Others utilized Form 8 for corrections or changes of address within the existing roll.
Polling stations covering housing board areas received a higher volume of Form 8 applications. This trend is attributed to numerous residents who have relocated to Coimbatore for work purposes and needed to update their voting details accordingly.
Personal Stories Highlight Systemic Gaps
The camps revealed personal stories of confusion and omission. A Abirami, a resident of Shiva Nagar near Papanaickenpalayam, attended the camp at the Papanaickenpalayam Corporation Middle School. "I am originally from Chennai and moved to Coimbatore after marriage," she explained. "During this special revision, my name was deleted from the Chennai list. So, I am here to enrol as a new voter in Coimbatore."
In a more puzzling case, T Santhi, a 59-year-old resident of Ambedkar Nagar in Kavundampalayam, found her name omitted despite having voted from the same address in past elections. She submitted Form 6 at the local camp. "I have a voter ID card and have lived at this address for 20 years," Santhi stated. "My two sons' names were listed and they received the SIR form. There is no clarity on why my name was left out, so I was advised to submit Form 6 as a new voter."
Officials Anticipate Higher Turnout on Weekend
An official stationed at the Kavundampalayam polling station confirmed the pattern. He noted that apart from those omitted, many government employees transferred to Coimbatore used Form 8 to include their names locally. "Since this station covers many housing units, most applications were for name transfers," he said.
The official also provided insight into the low initial turnout. "Public arrival was sparse until noon. We expect the crowd to increase significantly on Sunday, December 28, as it is a holiday for working people," he remarked. He added that awareness might be a factor, suggesting that some eligible voters might visit on the subsequent camp days—January 3 and 4.
The Election Commission's initiative aims to ensure a comprehensive and accurate voter list for the region. The coming days of the special camp will be critical in determining whether more citizens come forward to secure their fundamental right to vote.
