ECI Launches Three Key Reforms to Boost Voter Services and Roll Accuracy

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New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out three significant initiatives aimed at improving the integrity of the electoral rolls and strengthening voter services, as per an official press release issued on Thursday.

The first major initiative will see the ECI receiving electronic death registration data from the Registrar General of India. This step, enabled under Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (amended in 2023), is expected to enhance the accuracy of the voter list by facilitating the timely removal of names of deceased individuals.

According to the Commission, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will now have faster access to death records, while Booth Level Officers (BLOs) can verify these during routine field visits—without requiring families to submit Form 7. “This will streamline roll maintenance and reduce the burden on citizens,” the ECI stated.

These developments were finalised at the Chief Electoral Officers’ Conference held in March 2025, under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

As part of the second reform, the ECI has approved the issuance of standard photo identity cards to all BLOs. Appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, BLOs play a crucial role in voter registration and verification. The move will ensure BLOs are easily recognisable during door-to-door campaigns, thereby improving public trust and transparency in the process.

The third initiative focuses on enhancing the design of Voter Information Slips (VIS). The slips will now feature larger fonts for serial numbers and part numbers to help voters quickly locate their names and polling booths. “The improved VIS format is aimed at better facilitating voters on election day while aiding polling officials in managing queues efficiently,” the statement said.

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