QUEPEM: Two senior citizens registered as voters in Booth no. 10 of Quepem, which was set up in the Quepem Municipality office, were forced to opt for ‘Tendered Vote’ as they were told that they had already voted when they went to exercise their franchise.
Mary Fernandes, who was feeling unwell in the morning, went to vote in the evening, when she was shocked to be informed that she had already voted. Assisted by Wilma Fernandes, a Congress worker, she cast a Tendered Vote even though the Returning Officer could not assure her that the vote cast by the imposter in her name would not be considered.
Monica Fernandes faced a similar problem and the polling officials were not willing to show her their register as proof that she had already voted. Monica did not have her Election Personal Identity Card (EPIC) and instead had taken her Aadhar Card, but the Returning Officer refused to accept it, claiming that Aadhar is not acceptable as ID proof, said Fernandes.
“We have found these two cases, but who knows how many such manipulations they have done to deliberately keep Congress voters from exercising their franchise,” said Wilma.
