In a significant move to refine the electoral roll, Booth-level Officers (BLOs) across Kolkata have initiated a process to identify and mark untraceable voters as 'absent'. This action follows direct instructions from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Drive to Clean Voter Lists Gains Momentum
The Election Commission had set December 11 as the official deadline for compiling the list of absentee voters. However, demonstrating proactive diligence, many BLOs on the ground have decided to expedite the process. They aim to complete this critical exercise within the next couple of weeks, well ahead of the stipulated date.
The procedure is systematic. Once a BLO identifies voters who cannot be located, they prepare the list. This list is then sent to their immediate supervisors. The supervisors, in turn, are responsible for submitting the compiled data to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for official action.
Ground Reports from Kolkata's Wards
A Booth-level Officer from the Maniktala area provided insight into the scale of the task. "I have 135 forms that include absentees, dead and shifted voters and duplicate forms," the BLO stated. The officer further revealed that about 15% of these forms pertain to absent voters who remained untraceable despite multiple verification attempts.
Echoing similar challenges, a BLO from Tollygunge said, "I could not trace about 50 voters till Thursday and I am marking them 'absent'. The officer added that segregating all the forms into the required categories—such as absent, dead, shifted, or duplicate—would require an additional two to three days of dedicated work.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
This drive is a crucial step in maintaining an accurate and updated voter database. By identifying and removing the names of voters who have permanently shifted or are deceased, the Election Commission ensures the sanctity of the electoral process. It prevents potential electoral malpractices and streamlines election day operations.
The proactive stance of the Kolkata BLOs highlights their commitment to ensuring clean rolls. While the EC's deadline provides a framework, the field officers' initiative to finish early underscores the importance placed on this revision exercise ahead of future elections.
