Stanley G Pinto/TNN

Mangalore, Apr 15: Though Mangalore has the least number of voters, it has the highest number of electorate without the electoral photo ID card (EPIC) when compared to other constituencies. The average percentage of EPICs issued for the nine constituencies in Dakshina Kannada district, before delimitation, stands at 87%.

The Election Commission’s summary revision list was published (before delimitation) in August last year. In that, the urban constituency of Mangalore recorded 35% voters without EPIC. Of the total 95,998 voters, only 62,785 possess EPIC.

The Sullia constituency, which is mostly rural, records the lowest number of electorate without EPIC at less than 5%. Of the 1.48 lakh voters in this constituency, only 6,950 don’t have EPIC. The percentage of Belthangady, which stands next only to Sullia, stands at 6%: of the 1.71 lakh voters, only 10,641 voters don’t not have EPIC. The percentage of Puttur, Vittla and Bantwal is little less than 8% each.
  
The assembly segments which have high percentages after Mangalore are: Surathkal (23%) and Ullal (19%).

The district administration will soon start the process of issuing EPICs to those who don’t have the cards. “We will try to issue EPIC to at least one member of the family, so that on the basis of that card rest of the members of the family will be allowed to vote on production of other ID proof,” an official said. The process will start within a couple of days after giving area-wise details in newspapers. The process is expected to be completed within 20 days.

Regarding large number of electorate not having EPIC in the city, the official pointed out that “in urban areas, there were misses as most of the people go to work”.