Get your voter ID cards at B-One centres soon

 In an attempt to ensure that most Bangloreans have an election photo identity card (EPIC) by the time Karnataka goes to polls, the Election Commission is providing an easier and faster way to obtain the cards. The poll panel has decided to delegate the task of issuing the cards to BangaloreOne centres in the City.

While the Commission will not charge any fee for the first- time applicants, those seeking a duplicate card will have to pay Rs 25 at the B-One centres. Currently, the BBMP offices do not charge any fee for issuing a duplicate card.

Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told Deccan Herald that the Election Commission and the Department of e-Governance were finalising the procedure and it had been planned to launch the service this week.

Jha said the Commission was in the process of ensuring BangaloreOne Centres get ‘approved and actual’ database of voters to carry out the task.

The Election Commission hopes to reduce the burden on the revenue inspectors and other booth-level officials by decentralising the process of issue of cards.

Sources said, to begin with, 20 larger BangaloreOne Centres will be given the responsibility of issuing the cards. However, officials have advised citizens that it would be easier to make corrections or changes at the BBMP ward offices.

According to officials, the BangaloreOne centres will set up necessary infrastructure to issue election cards.