BANGALORE: Despite the starting trouble and infrastructure woes, Voter Facilitation Centres (VFCs) - Election Commission’s one-stop shops for redressal of issues related to voter’s lists and electoral photo identity cards (EPICs), have picked up pace with better response by urban electorate across the state.
The concept of VFC is the first of its kind in the country to render assistance to voters on issues related to electoral rolls and voter identity cards.
With elections round the corner, these centres have witnessed large number of voters visiting with several queries. The crowd has almost doubled and the staff are finding it difficult to handle the crowd.
After 28 days of its launch, VFCs have succeeded in serving over 1.9 lakh voters and VFCs hope to ensure more entries in the electoral lists before the polls.
Aruna, a resident of Shantinagar, filling up a form at the VFC for Shantinagar Assembly segment at Mayo Hall said, “This facility is very helpful to voters. All this while, I wanted my name shifted to this constituency.
But I could finally do this now and it is just a small procedure at the VFC centre.” “This is the time for eligible voters to enrol themselves in the voters’ list if they have not done yet,” said an official at the Shivajinagar VFC. Speaking to The New Indian Express, sources at the Chief Electoral Office said, “There is overwhelming response and the VFCs have provided service to nearly 1.95 electors across the urban constituencies in the state.
"The centres will function as per the convenience of the public and with elections round the corner, the number of helplines will be increased gradually. They will function till the last date of polls and will help the voters with any poll-related issues.” The centres have received great response from the public.
The well-equipped centres and the staff will continue to help the electors submit error free forms, sources said. VFCs are open between 8 am and 12 noon and between 4 pm and 8 pm on all days, except Mondays.
On Sundays, they will be open from 10 am to 8 pm.
They have been set up in 21 constituencies in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) areas.