Odisha Panchayat Polls: SEC Warns Fake Voters; Know About ‘Tender Vote’

Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday warned fake voters against trying to cast votes in the three-tier panchayat elections.

Rabindra Nath Sahu, the SEC’s secretary, said a polling agent can challenge a voter in case his or her identity is suspicious.

By depositing a fee of Rs 2 to the presiding officer, the agent can request an inquiry. If the voter is found as genuine, the fee will be forfeited and the voter allowed to vote, he said.

If the voter is found to be fake, the fee will be returned to the agent and the voter handed over to police, Sahu added.

He said a voter will be entitled to cast ‘tender vote’ if he/she finds out that someone has already cast vote in his/her name.

The three-tier polls will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24.