PANAJI
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out three new initiatives aimed at enhancing the accuracy of electoral rolls and streamlining the voting process for citizens. These changes align with the goals set by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in March this year, which was attended by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
One of the key measures involves the electronic transfer of death registration data from the Registrar General of India to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). This will help ensure that the EROs receive up-to-date information about registered deaths. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will then verify this data through field visits, eliminating the need for formal requests under Form 7.
In another move to improve voter engagement, the ECI has redesigned the Voter Information Slips (VIS). The new design will feature more prominently displayed serial and part numbers, with an increased font size, making it easier for voters to find their polling station and for election officials to identify names in the electoral roll.
Additionally, the ECI has mandated that all BLOs, appointed under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, receive standard photo identity cards. This step aims to improve public recognition of BLOs during voter verification and registration drives. As the first point of contact for voters during election-related duties, it is crucial that BLOs are easily identifiable when conducting house-to-house visits.
