55 days to go for elections: Political parties can obtain details of voters across the country

The Election Commission (EC) has made an arrangement that the political parties can obtain details of voters across the country by paying certain charges. 

According to the House of Representatives Member Elections Directive prepared by the EC, the political parties can access the list of voters across the country by paying Rs 10,000. 

For this, arrangements have been made to provide the information to parties registered for election purposes in the commission. 

The commission will provide the details electronically except for the voter's date of birth, citizenship number, and mobile number, it is stated. 

The commission will provide such details on a hard drive or pen drive. The details of one province can be obtained by paying Rs 5,000.

The election officer should allow any voter, party representative, or candidate wishing to see or transfer the voter list name at their own expense to do so in a manner that does not permit tearing, damaging or tampering with the voter list. 

As per the arrangement, If a voter wishes to obtain their own voter list, the election office should provide a copy of the list containing only the particular voter's details upon charging Rs 10,000. 

Similarly, the election office should provide an electronic copy of the voter list to political parties and independent candidates upon charging Rs 3,000 for the district list and equal charge for the voter list of any single electoral constituency.