Why can't I vote?

Our nation boasts of being a democracy with each and every citizen enjoying their right to vote. In theory, yes. But dig a little deeper and the apathetic situation couldn't be more obvious. We are aware of the great fiasco that happened during the recent Lok Sabha elections—missing voters' names, spelling errors, voters' names listed next to incorrect locations—the list goes on.

The saddest part of this great Indian messed-up voter's list is that some voters are being declared dead, when they are still alive! 93-year-old Wing Commander Hoshaen Patel (Retd) is possibly one of the oldest voters in the suburbs—and he is one unhappy voter. He says, "I have been living here for the past 40 years and my name has been on the list all these years. But then one fine day, my name disappears from the list. On enquiry, I'm told that the voter has been declared dead."

Patel's health condition is not the best at the moment, which is why he cannot step out and run around trying to rectify the gross error. However, a letter was submitted to the local voters' registration office, where it mentioned that the voters' list has declared him dead and that the error needs to be rectified.

Madhu Poplai of Pali Hill Residents' Association, says, "I just can't understand how these people work; despite giving them the letter, which was duly signed by him, the error has not been rectified. When I called the office, they said that you should have followed up after the letter was submitted."

The lackadaisical attitude of the staff members who look in to these matters is rather unnerving. Patel has also mentioned that despite having served in the Indian Air Force for such a long time, he has to suffer this ordeal. Above everything else, Patel is rather saddened by the fact that he won't be able to vote for the upcoming state elections.