The Election Commission of India has announced changes to the verification process for voters flagged during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, allowing many electors to complete the process without visiting the Electoral Registration Officer.
The decisions were taken during a meeting of the three-member poll panel in New Delhi on Saturday. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar chaired the meeting, which was attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The meeting comes amid a wider controversy over reported differences within the Election Commission regarding certain aspects of the SIR exercise. The poll body has maintained that final decisions on the exercise were taken by the full Commission.
BLOs To Visit Voters With Notices
Under the revised process, voters who receive notices because their names could not be mapped to earlier electoral records or because of identified logical discrepancies will generally not have to appear personally before the ERO.
Instead, Booth Level Officers will visit such voters and collect the required documents. The documents will then be uploaded through the Election Commission’s ECINet system.
The move is intended to make the verification process easier for voters who may face difficulties travelling to election offices.
ERO Can Order Hearing In Specific Cases
The Election Commission said personal hearings will only be required in exceptional cases identified by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer.
Where a hearing is considered necessary, the Commission plans to strengthen online facilities so that voters can participate without necessarily travelling to an election office.
An adult member of a voter’s family can also be authorised to attend the hearing on the voter’s behalf, where required.
Help Desks And Special Camps Planned
The Election Commission has also directed District Election Officers to arrange help desks and special camps based on local requirements.
These facilities are expected to assist people who may face greater difficulties during the SIR verification process, including homeless people, workers, people living in night shelters and economically vulnerable groups.
The aim is to provide additional support to voters who may otherwise struggle to submit documents or respond to notices.
SIR Process Under Increased Scrutiny
The changes come at a time when the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise is facing increased public and political scrutiny.
Reports have highlighted objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on several issues connected with electoral rolls and the SIR process. The Commission has said that differences of opinion can arise during internal deliberations and has maintained that its final decisions were unanimous.
The latest measures place greater emphasis on doorstep document collection, online hearings and local assistance as the poll panel continues its voter-roll verification exercise.
