Seized cash to be returned if valid documents are produced, says Erode Collector

District Election Officer and Collector S. Kandasamy has said that instructions have been issued to flying squad and static surveillance team officials to return cash seized from the public if valid documents are produced.

Addressing reporters at the Collectorate here on Thursday (March 19, 2026), he said that the district has 17.40 lakh voters following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). After verification, 12,000 more voters were added. Eligible persons can submit Form 6 to enrol in the electoral roll till the last date for filing nominations, though the verification process takes about 10 days. He urged those seeking inclusion to apply at the earliest.

The district has about 11,000 polling personnel, all of whom are being trained. Postal ballots will be issued to them during the first round of training. Special arrangements have also been made to issue and collect postal ballots from personnel engaged in essential services, security forces, and those on election duty in other districts. CCTV cameras will be installed at all 2,329 polling stations to monitor activities inside booths as well as in the surrounding areas.

Of the ₹56 lakh seized, ₹36 lakh has been returned so far. Officials have been directed to return the remaining amount upon production and verification of valid documents.

Public can lodge complaints with the monitoring officers appointed for the district. As many as 20 coordination officers have been appointed for various election-related tasks and trained accordingly. Awareness campaigns encouraging voter participation will continue till polling day. “While 76% voter turnout was recorded in the previous election, efforts are on to increase it to over 90% this time,” the Collector said.

Training will be provided to candidates on the preparation of election expenditure statements, and the required materials have already been supplied. Around 73 polling booths in 55 locations have been identified as vulnerable. Of the 24,000 persons with disabilities in the district, 11,000 have been identified in the electoral roll. Eligible voters will be provided Form 12D to enable voting from home, he added.

Superintendent of Police D.V. Kiran Shruthi and District Revenue Officer S. Santhakumar were present.