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The CEO also said at least 2.25 lakh forms have been received for adding new names, updating or changing addresses. Thursday is the deadline for filing claims and objections
This process aims to eliminate polling locations with a large number of stations, as per Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines. (AP)
As many as 123 new polling stations will be added in Delhi as the city gears up for the upcoming assembly polls, an official statement said on Thursday, adding that 53 exiting stations have been removed.
As per the statement of the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Delhi, Alice Vaz, the rationalization of polling stations is underway in Delhi. This process aims to eliminate polling locations with a large number of stations, as per Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.
“A total of 53 polling stations were removed due to damaged or damaged buildings, while 123 new polling stations were added. This has led to a net increase of 70 polling station locations, ensuring better accessibility and convenience for voters in Delhi,” he said.
The CEO also said at least 2.25 lakh forms have been received for adding new names, updating or changing addresses. Thursday is the deadline for filing claims and objections. The process began on October 29.
“However, the process of receiving forms will continue beyond that date as part of a continuous updating process to ensure maximum participation and accuracy in the electoral roll,” the CEO said.
‘Manipulation in the electoral roll’
Amid allegations of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) manipulation of electoral rolls, the Delhi CEO said that household verification is being done across the city from August.
On Wednesday, Delhi chief minister Atishi alleged that the Union government was planning a massive conspiracy against the people of Delhi.
“To unfairly win the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, the government is undermining democracy. The Center has started erasing the votes of Delhiites on a large scale through the official machinery… This is a staged conspiracy,” he said.
He added that on October 28, 29 SDMs and ADMs were transferred, and after that, “officials were ordered to remove the sound on a large scale”.
In his statement, the CEO, without addressing any allegations, said that in order to achieve the objective of a clean and healthy electoral roll, the ECI conducts a special summary revision every year which includes two different activities – pre-revision activity and revision activity.
“A healthy and clean electoral roll is very important to ensure that only eligible voters exercise their rights on poll day and there is no fraudulent voting,” the CEO said.
Vaz stressed that as part of the pre-revision activities, house-to-house (H2H) verification is being conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from August 20.
“BLOs visit every household in Delhi to identify unregistered voters, prospective voters who will turn 18 on October 1, and entries that require deletion, such as for voters who have died or moved permanently. Cases of multiple entries and splits families are also identified,” he added.
During this extensive verification drive, the BLO collected approximately 1.62 lakh Forms (6, 7, and 8) to deal with additions, deletions, and corrections in the voter list.
H2H work is regularly monitored at every level – BLO Supervisor, Assistant Election Registration Officer (AERO)/ Election Registration Officer (ERO), District Election Officer (DEO) and CEO level.
Open Option to Add Voter
Any unregistered citizen, who is still not registered in the electoral roll, can apply for registration by submitting Form-6 along with supporting documents. After filing Form-6, BLO will do field verification.
“Based on the BLO’s field verification report and supporting documents, the form is disposed of by the Electoral Registration Officer as per the procedure prescribed by the ECI,” the statement added.
He also informed that a voter cannot have his name on the voter list in more than one constituency or in any constituency more than once. This is an offense punishable u/s 17 & 18 of the Representation of People Act, 1950.
“If a voter has multiple entries at different locations or holds multiple Voter I Cards, he will apply in Form-7 to delete the Multiple Entries,” he added.
