NEW DELHI: In a move to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and streamline voter services, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched three major initiatives aimed at strengthening the electoral process.
These reforms were announced following the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) held in March, under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and in the presence of Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, as announced through a press release issued Thursday.
A key initiative involves the electronic acquisition of death registration data from the Registrar General of India. This reform, aligned with Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023), will enable Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to receive timely updates on registered deaths. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will then verify these details through field visits, without waiting for formal applications under Form 7. The measure is expected to significantly enhance the integrity of electoral rolls by ensuring prompt deletion of names of deceased individuals.
To improve the voting experience, the Commission has also redesigned the Voter Information Slip (VIS) to make it more user-friendly. The new format features larger fonts for the voter’s serial and part numbers, helping electors easily identify their polling stations and aiding officials in quicker location of voter entries in the rolls.
In a further step to boost voter outreach and confidence, the ECI has directed that all BLOs be issued standard photo identity cards. Appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, BLOs are the primary link between voters and the Commission. The official ID cards will ensure that BLOs are easily recognisable during house-to-house visits, fostering trust and smoother interactions during voter verification and registration drives.