Revision of electoral rolls becomes Herculean task

Tirupati: During the summary revision of electoral rolls, the district administration has found 16,000 doubtful cases and asked the officials concerned to examine them thoroughly to arrive at a final decision.

As the process has to be completed by December 15, they were asked to complete within the stipulated time and issued memos to 28 officials for the delay in executing the work. One computer operator in Kuppam was also suspended for showing negligence in discharging the duties.

The Collector PS Pradyumna and Joint Collector PS Girisha were taking the process very seriously to ensure that no eligible voter should be left out of the electoral rolls. After Telangana episode where reportedly about 1 lakh voters names were not included in the voters list, the Collector was leaving no stone unturned to prepare fool proof electoral rolls.

As the district administration acted tough several new applications were rejected in the scrutiny when they were not supported by any documentary evidence. Several such complaints have received by them from Chandragiri and Tirupati constituencies.

The Election Commission (EC) released the schedule for summary revision of electoral rolls on September 1 and by that time there were 28 lakh voters in the district. The EC gave directions to revise the list by making additions, deletions based on proper evidence by October 30, so as to enable it to prepare the final list.

New voters can also apply for inclusion of their names in list by submitting form VI. Though manual submission of the forms was completed on October 30, online process was continuing. Objections, change of address etc., can be done by submitting form VII, form VIII and VIII A. The officials have received 2.8 lakh applications of all the four types which the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have to examine intensely by visiting door-to-door and upload the details online.

In this process, negligence on the part of the computer operator was identified, who did not upload the details properly. Though applicants have submitted with self- declarations, they were not uploaded. Similarly, instead of applicants’ photos, he has uploaded their application forms only.

Explaining the process to The Hans India, Joint Collector PS Girisha has said that the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have to prepare a file manually with all the proofs which will be uploaded by the operator.

But, in the process at several places, they have uploaded the details without door numbers as they could not be found in several villages and small habitations. Some mistakes were made in uploading the photos too which were approved at ERO-level. Though 95 to 98 per cent of them were genuine, orders issued for reverification of all the applications.

The EC has mentioned 3.4 lakh doubtful votes in the district. Among them names without initials, double entries, migrated and other types were there. “After various stages, finally 16,000 entries were found doubtful. Notices have to be issued to all those persons asking them why their votes should not be removed.

Orders have been issued to BLOs to examine all these cases and collect fresh proofs and statements. Memos were served to four EROs and 24 AEROs for showing negligence or delay in discharging duties,” JC maintained. All this process will be completed by December 15 and final roll will be published on January 4.

The Collector has appealed to all political parties to have close watch at booth-level to check any irregularities. He asked the parties to be more vigilant through their agents and if any discrepancies are found they should be brought to the notice of the officials to prepare fair and transparent electoral rolls.