In a significant move to streamline the electoral process, Jharkhand's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), K Ravi Kumar, has issued a directive to all concerned officers. The order mandates the assignment of notional house numbers to all residences that currently lack an officially assigned number from local government bodies or panchayats.
The Core Issue: Discrepancies in Voter Identification
CEO Kumar highlighted a critical problem stemming from the improper identification of houses. He explained that the absence of a proper house number can lead to serious inconsistencies in the electoral roll. Voters from the same family might find their entries broken up or listed with discontinuous serial numbers within the same polling station. Furthermore, family members could end up with different house numbers printed on their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), causing confusion and potential disenfranchisement.
"To eliminate such situations, issuing notional numbers is extremely necessary," Kumar stated in an interview on Saturday. This step is seen as foundational for creating a clean and reliable voter database.
Integration with Polling Station Rationalisation
This initiative is being rolled out concurrently with the ongoing rationalisation of polling stations across the state. As part of this larger exercise, authorities are conducting geo-fencing of polling stations and their respective areas. The process of assigning notional numbers will specifically target new constructions and any existing houses that are without a number.
Kumar also set a clear guideline for the rationalisation work, instructing officers to ensure that no single polling station contains more than 1,200 registered voters. He emphasized that this meticulous groundwork will directly facilitate the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists, making the revision process more efficient and accurate.
Empowering Booth Level Officers and Voters
The CEO outlined another major benefit of this drive: enhanced efficiency for Booth Level Officers (BLOs). With properly assigned house numbers, BLOs of respective polling stations will be able to locate and reach out to voters in their jurisdiction much more easily.
As part of this comprehensive effort, BLOs will be tasked with pasting informational stickers on houses. These stickers will serve as a vital communication link, containing essential details such as:
- The name of the BLO for the area.
- Assembly constituency and part number.
- The assigned house number or notional house number.
- The contact phone number of the BLO.
"This will help voters establish contact with their BLOs," Kumar said, underscoring the move's goal to foster direct and accessible communication between election officials and the electorate, thereby strengthening the grassroots machinery of the electoral process.
