Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo has termed the information being shared through social media on ‘Tendered Vote’ and ‘Challenge Vote’ as misleading and unsubstantiated.

Countering it, Sahoo said, “Through social media it is being spread that even if the electors’ do not have their name in electoral roll, they can cast their vote. The information cites on showing the identity of elector (Aadhar card/Electoral Photo Identity Card), they can under Section 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, challenge it before the presiding officer and cast vote.”

Sahoo clarified that any elector can cast his vote, only if his name is on electoral roll. If name does not exist, then, even after showing any type of identity card permitted by Election Commission, do not give any right to cast vote.

“Challenge vote situation arise when any agent of candidate challenges identity of any elector. Presiding officer holds probe and the challenge does not hold ground, then he allows to vote. In case, the challenge is proven, then elector can be denied and a written complaint will be lodged against elector with police station,” he added.

“There is no provision of re-polling in any polling centre which records more than 14 percent of tendered vote. Generally, if any elector had already cast the vote against name of any elector, then actual elector has right to seek ‘tendered vote’. The presiding officer then allows him to vote through ballot paper which is marked as tendered vote,” he said.

Sahoo said, any elector before casting his vote can seek primary information through voter helpline mobile application, 1950 short message system (SMS) and national voter service portal or call toll free number 1950. All services are free of cost.