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A huge administrative campaign has started in the election scenario of the capital Delhi. The Election Commission of India has launched a massive cleanup campaign to make the voter list completely transparent, accurate and error-free. Under this major step, notices related to SIR i.e. Suspected/Special Intensive Revision have been issued to about 33 lakh voters across Delhi. The Commission has taken this decision to reduce the population of the capital, frequent migration and eliminate duplicate entries. In view of the notices issued on such a large scale, it is natural for the general public to have a question whether their name will be removed from the voter list or they will be deprived of the right to vote. The Commission has fielded a huge team of 15,200 field officers to keep the entire process smooth, fair and transparent.
Delhi is a metropolis where lakhs of people come every year in search of employment, education or a better life and many people shift from one part of the city to another or to NCR cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad. The Election Commission’s technology-based investigation revealed that there are many names registered in the voter list which are either present in more than one assembly constituency, whose address has changed, or the concerned voter has died. By marking such names, the Commission has put them in the ‘SIR’ category. The Commission has a clear message that this notice has not been sent to take away the rights of any voter, but to correct the records as per the actual situation. Until door-to-door physical verification is done, no legitimate citizen’s name will be removed from the list.
Examining data on such a huge scale is not an easy task. That is why the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has prepared a special force of a total of 15,200 trained officers including Booth Level Officers (BLO) and observers. Each officer has been assigned a list of notices as per their respective area. These officers will knock directly on the registered addresses of the voters. Their main task will be to see whether the person in whose name the notice has come is actually living at the same address. If the person is found present, his identity details will be verified on the spot. If the house is found closed or the person has shifted to another place, then a Panchnama will be prepared after interrogating the neighbors and local representatives. The objective of this ground exercise is to eliminate fake and inactive entries so that accurate voting percentage can be recorded in the upcoming elections.
If such a notice from the Election Commission reaches your home, then there is absolutely no need to panic. This is only a verification process. As soon as the concerned BLO arrives at your home, all you have to do is present your genuine identity and address proof. For this you can show Aadhar card, passport, driving license, bank passbook, new electricity or water bill, or ration card. The officer will have you sign a short verification form and update your details through the departmental app. If for some reason you are not found present at your address, you will be given full opportunity to clarify your position by appearing in the office of the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or through the online portal. No one’s name will be struck off without proper investigation and following the rules of natural justice.
To maintain transparency in this entire exercise, modern technology and GPS-enabled tools are being used. The daily progress of 15,200 officials is being tracked real-time on the dashboard of the District Electoral Officer and Chief Electoral Officer. Its advantage is that the scope for negligence or favoritism at any level is eliminated. Apart from this, for the citizens who have any confusion regarding the notice, the Election Commission’s helpline 1950 has been kept active 24 hours. Citizens can also check their current status through Voter Services Portal and Voter Helpline App. The Commission has clarified that people who have recently changed their residence can get their new address updated immediately by filling Form 8, so that their name gets added to the list at the new place and orderly removal from the old place.
This massive purification drive will transform Delhi’s voter list into the most modern and accurate database in the country. To strengthen democracy, it is important that every vote is genuine and no eligible citizen is left out of his franchise. If your name is also involved in this process, then cooperate with your BLO and fulfill the responsibility of a conscious citizen by keeping your documents in order.