The Election Commission of India has initiated a significant drive in West Bengal, directing all state government employees to formally declare that they are not registered as voters in more than one assembly constituency. This move aims to ensure the integrity of the electoral roll and prevent any possibility of duplicate voting.
Mandatory Declaration for All State Employees
Starting Tuesday, officials across various departments began receiving the official declaration format. The directive is clear and stringent: every government employee must confirm that their name, along with the names of their spouse and dependent children, appears on the electoral roll of only one assembly constituency.
If any employee or their family members are found enrolled in two constituencies, they must immediately initiate the process to get their name deleted from one. This rule forms a core part of the Systematic Inclusion of Residents (SIR) exercise currently underway.
Scale of the Exercise and Key Personnel
The order impacts a massive workforce. West Bengal has nearly 5 lakh (500,000) state government employees. Within this pool, a substantial number are directly involved in election duties. This includes:
- 89,681 Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
- 14,000 additional or assistant BLOs
- Around 2,940 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs)
- 294 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)
Given their critical role in managing the electoral process, the declaration holds even greater importance for these officials to maintain impartiality and public trust.
Submission Process and Compliance
All state employees are required to fill out the provided declaration form. Once completed, the form must be submitted to either the designated nodal officer responsible for electoral roll matters or to the heads of their respective departments. This streamlined process is designed to ensure widespread compliance and easy monitoring.
The Election Commission's directive underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards electoral malpractices. By ensuring that those who administer the elections are themselves adhering to the fundamental rule of a single voter identity, the commission aims to bolster the credibility of the entire electoral framework in the state.
