For the first time, booth-level registers (BLRs), documents containing electors’ data booth-wise, are being updated exhaustively in all 58,761 booths of the State.
The special feature of the BLRs is that the registers have more data regarding electors than that of electoral rolls. For example, the BLRs have details such as e-mail IDs and mobile phone numbers of voters, which will not be available in the electoral rolls.
Besides, the registers have a provision for booth level officers (BLOs) to make recommendation to electoral registration officers (EROs) and assistant EROs for addition or deletion of names of voters.
Though the updating of the BLRs is not mandatory as per law, it is preferred as this will make easier for the authorities to update the electoral rolls even at the stage of publication of draft rolls. Pointing out that the task of updating the BLRs was carried out in the State last year on an experimental basis, a top official says that at present, the BLOs are carrying out the work, which is expected to be over by the end of this month.
Where they come across the instances of addition or deletion or correction of names of voters, they are required to pass on the relevant application forms to persons concerned. The idea is to use the updated BLRs as the basis for the draft electoral rolls, which will be published on October 1. By this method, the scope gets reduced for errors in electoral rolls.
The official acknowledges that the BLOs’ work in urban areas is not as visible as in rural areas.
As regards the job of updating the electoral rolls, the official explains that once the draft rolls are published, the period for submission of applications for addition/deletion/correction will be up to October 31.
Final rolls on Jan. 6
On January 6, the final rolls will be made public. As per the 2013 rolls, the strength of electors in the State is 5.15 crore. From October, the number of polling booths will go up to 60,418 following rationalisation of the location of booths, the official adds.
