Voter lists a nightmare for BLOs and electors?

Hyderabad: Are current voter lists in urban areas a nightmare for both booth level officers (BLOs) and voters? It looks like so with names spread across multiple residential areas and far-flung places.

Consequently, BLOs involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process had a tough time identifying electors and reaching their residences. Voters also faced difficulty in approaching their respective BLOs.

According to officials in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), there are a total of 35,985 polling booths in Telangana; and about 15 per cent electors “could not be traced” during the SIR exercise.

One of the major reasons is that the BLOs could not reach out to them.

For, the BLOs had made arrangements for interacting with electors having issues at community halls in their respective polling station limits.

According to a BLO from the Musheerabad Assembly constituency, who did not want to be identified, in the list that was given to them they could not trace 10 to 15 per cent of the voters. According to the BLO, some of the electors did not take calls and were not available at the doorstep as per the address previously mentioned by them.

Each BLO was given one booth with an average of 1,000 to 1,200 electors to take up SIR. The BLOs were given one month’s time and the period was later extended twice following delays due to various reasons.

The main problem many BLOs faced in urban areas was that electors in the list given to them were scattered across a large geographical area, sometimes as big as an Assembly constituency.

“The list I was given has voters spread across multiple colonies and areas with each colony accounting for less than 10 voters. How is it possible for me to visit so many colonies and areas to do voter verification?” a BLO from Hyderabad asked. Instead, the EC should realign voter lists and see to it that voters from particular areas are in the same list, the BLO added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K Chandrashekar

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K Chandrashekar is an experienced content creator/journalist specialising in political and general reporting. With over two decades of writing expertise, he handles or contributes towards political, health and transport sectors. Chandrashekar has completed his post-graduation from SD Signodia College/ Osmania University (with a specialization in Commerce). When not immersed in writing, he/she can be found spending time listening to music. Chandrashekar is an accomplished writer with a passion for writing articles. With over 20 years of experience, he has honed her/his craft in various genres, including entertainment or crime or education. Chandrashekar's diverse family history and embracing cultures have enriched her/his writing with unique perspectives

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