A woman who came to exercise her democratic right at a polling station on Valayakara Street in the Erode (East) Assembly constituency on Wednesday was in for a surprise when election officials informed her that her vote had already cast.
Faritha Begam told the media that officials claimed a woman wearing a burqa had cast her vote but refused to show her the signature. “I will lodge a complaint,” she said before leaving the polling booth at the Corporation Elementary School. Her husband added that officials had asked them to return later due to long voter queues.
According to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, a voter is allowed to cast a ‘tendered vote’ if someone else has fraudulently voted in their name. However, the presiding officer instructed her to come back later.
Published – February 05, 2025 05:48 pm IST