Poll Panel rolls out reforms to enhance electoral roll accuracy

The Election Commission has introduced new initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls and making the voting process more convenient for citizens. The Commission will now obtain death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India. This will ensure that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) receive timely information about registered deaths. It will also enable Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to re-verify the information through field visits without waiting for a formal request under Form 7.
To make Voter Information Slips more voter-friendly, the Commission has decided to modify their design. The serial number and part number of the voter will now be displayed more prominently, with an increased font size. This will make it easier for voters to identify their polling station and for polling officials to locate their names in the electoral roll efficiently.
The Election Commission has also directed that all BLOs, who are appointed by the EROs, be issued standard photo identity cards to ensure that citizens can recognise and interact confidently with BLOs during voter verification and registration drives. As the first point of contact between voters and the Election Commission in performing election-related duties, it is important that BLOs are easily identifiable to the public while conducting house-to-house visits. These measures are in line with the initiatives envisaged by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers in March this year.