With names missing, many could not vote

According to a rough estimate, more than 20,000 people in Gautam Budh Nagar District could not participate in the polls as their names were missing on the voters’ list. In Noida alone, about 6,000 residents could not find their names on the list. Saurabh Trivedi reports.

According to a rough estimate, more than 20,000 people in Gautam Budh Nagar District could not participate in the polls as their names were missing on the voters’ list. In Noida alone, about 6,000 residents could not find their names on the list.

“My wife and one of my sons could not cast their votes as the list did not have their names. Many residents of my locality faced the same problem,” said Vijay Agarwal of Alpha-I, Greater Noida.

Apart from this, technical snags in EVMs also kept many waiting at some polling booths. “I had to wait for an hour to cast my vote due to an glitch in the machine,” said Himanshu Chaudhary of Sector 50.

A few voters were seen scurrying around as their names were registered at a different booth. “I was registered at the Sector 71 polling booth but my wife’s name was on Sector 52 list,” said Vijay Kumar of Sector 71.

Complaints regarding incorrect details on voter IDs and photograph goof-ups were also reported.

Poll protests
A group of voters blocked NH-24 around 2pm after they were not allowed to vote in Bahlolpur village on Tuesday. The affected residents alleged their names were struck off the voters’ list by the Yadav community, that dominates the area, as a means to influence the polls.

Traffic was affected for more than two hours before the police took control of the situation.