Delhi/Hyderabad, Sept 27 (Maxim News): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has eased the procedure for voters who receive notices during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Under the latest decision, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the homes of voters who receive notices for unmapped entries or logical discrepancies. They will collect the required documents and upload them on the ECINET platform for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
SIR Noticees Need Not Routinely Attend ERO Office
The ECI said such voters will not normally be required to appear personally before the ERO or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). A hearing will be held only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, and will preferably be conducted online.
If a hearing is considered necessary, the voter can authorise an adult member of the family to appear on their behalf. The Commission has also directed that facilities for online hearings be strengthened.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the full Election Commission at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on September 26. The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi also present.
The Commission also said that field officers would continue to have role-based access to ECINET according to their statutory powers. A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, with an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT, will review whether the ECINET system complies with applicable laws and rules.
SIR Completed in 20 States and UTs
The ECI said SIR has been completed in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. It directed Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and EROs to launch special drives to help eligible voters whose names were left out during or after the revision.
Young and first-time voters can also apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion through the continuous updating process. The Commission has directed officials to facilitate such applications.
The ECI also directed District Election Officers to establish help desks and organise special camps, where required, for people living in night shelters, workers, poor people and homeless persons.
For voters who receive SIR notices, the latest procedure means that document collection will generally take place at their homes, reducing the need for personal attendance at election offices.
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