Mangaluru: The Election Commission officials will begin handing over voter slips on the doorsteps of voters either on May 3 or May 4 in Dakshina Kannada, according to Sasikanth Senthil S., Deputy Commissioner and Election Officer.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, he said that voters would have to sign on a register after receiving the voter slips. The distribution of voter slips would go on for a week. Voter slips could also be obtained during the voting day on May 12 outside the booths.

However, it is not a must to produce voter slips for exercising one’s franchise. One can vote only by producing the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC).

Mr. Senthil said that the commission had received 50,000 applications in the district for registration as voters on April 8 when “Minchina nondani” was organised. Of these, EPICs have been distributed to 35,000 voters. The pending cards would be distributed within three days. The district now has 17,11,848 voters.

The Election Officer said that of ₹ 15.89 lakh cash seized so far during the implementation of model code of conduct, ₹ 8.84 lakh have been released by the cash seizure redressal committee after verifying related documents.

The remaining amount is with the commission. The officials have so far seized 23,784.825 litres of illicit liquor valued at ₹ 1.33 crore. In addition, six vehicles have been seized.

Micro observers have been appointed to 360 polling booths. They are either Union government or bank officials.

Mr. Senthil said that EVMs and VVPATs have been handed over to the Returning Officers of eight Assembly segments after the first level randomisation. They have been kept in security rooms and handed over to the police. Symbols have been allocated to all 58 contesting candidates in the district.

Votes would be counted on May 15 at the Mahatma Gandhi Centenary Higher Primary School and Mahatma Gandhi Centenary Composite Pre University College in Bondel.

The commission has received 165 complaints through on-line. Of them, 160 complaints have been disposed of and the remaining are under investigation. All the complaints were related to display of publicity material and buntings and banners.