Last Updated:
The updation or addition of names requires house-to-house survey, physical field verification, display and sharing of list of claims and objections, supervision and random checking
The creation, maintenance and purification of electoral rolls is the core constitutional responsibility of the EC. (Getty)
Before every election, political parties get into a verbal clash over the updation of electoral rolls. Now, as Delhi is gearing up for assembly polls, the picture is no different. While the opposition BJP is accusing AAP of adding unauthorised names in the list, the latter has been attacking the saffron party for deletion of valid names.
In February 2024, the BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) that West Bengal has 16 lakh fake voters. In January 2024, similar issues were raised in Andhra Pradesh when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the BJP filed a complaint over ‘fake names’ in the state voters’ list. When Maharashtra went to polls in November 2024, Congress raised the issue again. In 2018 and 2019, before the Lok Sabha polls, BJP and AAP indulged in similar blame-games in Delhi.
But how exactly are names added and deleted from the electoral roll? Is it really possible to delete or add names by simply directing the Election Commission’s office? The answer is no.
The updation or addition of names requires house-to-house survey, physical field verification, display and sharing of list of claims and objections, supervision and random checking. It also involves sharing of draft and final electoral roll with political parties. There is also a rigorous Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for deletion of names.
Speaking to News18, a poll body official said the creation, maintenance and purification of electoral rolls is the core constitutional responsibility of the EC, with a well-defined and meticulously followed legacy over decades.
“The credibility of the process is organically linked to data/facts over several revisions and continuous updation of previous data sets. The process is ensconced in a watertight statutory scheme which is rule-based,” they said.
The EC, they said, firmly believes that an inclusive, healthy, pure and transparently prepared electoral roll is the foundation of free, fair and credible elections.
Involving All Stakeholders
For a pure and healthy electoral roll, rules are followed from Article 324 of the Constitution of India, provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, Registration of the Electors Rules, 1960, and the extant instructions issued by the commission from time to time.
All political parties are made aware of the SoPs for Special Summary Revision (SSR) and the special measures taken during SSR. Additions and deletions take place after due enquiry, in full public view and with participation of political parties at every stage of the process.
Every entry in the electoral roll database, either by way of addition or deletion or transportation, is credible, as it is based on voluntariness of the citizen to enrol and an open disclosure and public hearing to objections, if any and, thereafter, the entries are available for perpetual scrutiny and legal challenge.
To ensure that each and every information is available with the various stakeholders, free copies of the draft and final electoral rolls, along with weekly lists of claims and objections, are provided to recognised political parties to make them aware about the process to avoid any post facto objection or grievances.
The draft and final rolls are hosted on the CEO/ District Election Officer (DEO) websites and the rolls are displayed at designated polling stations location and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) offices notice board.
During the continuous updation period, monthly pooling of lists of additions, deletions, and modifications are published on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for the information of the general public.
EC has provided the provision of the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLA) by the recognised political parties as an extra facilitation to them, ensuring utmost transparency in the process. BLAs do not interfere with the registration process and in the functioning of Booth Level Officer (BLOs) but only identify and flag any discrepancy or impurity in the electoral roll of the polling station/party concerned.
Enrolling Every Eligible Citizen
The ECI even allows homeless people to get registered as voters. For that, the Booth Level Officer visits the address given in Form 6 at night to ascertain that the homeless person actually sleeps at the place which is given as his address in Form 6. If the Booth Level Officer is able to verify that the homeless person actually sleeps at that place, no documentary proof of place of residence will be necessary. Booth Level Officers will visit for more than one night for this verification. After conducting the verification and to the satisfaction of ERO that the person fulfils all the prescribed conditions, necessary action for enrolment is done.
No Deletion Without Enquiry
Any person who is a voter in the constituency concerned can object to the inclusion of names in the electoral roll on the grounds that the person whose name is included or is proposed to be included is not eligible to be registered as a voter in that constituency. An objection can be made in Form 7 to the ERO concerned along with the relevant proof.
It is also important to note that if a name of an elector is to be deleted, it is not without any enquiry and field verification. For deletions in areas where more than two per cent of electors are removed or where the same person objects to more than five cases, the ERO personally verifies the deletions to ensure accuracy.
Continuous updation throughout the year
The electoral roll is continuously updated throughout the year, except during election in a constituency for a period from the last date of filing nomination to completion of election process.
To ensure transparency at each stage of revision of roll, the rules allow people to check entries in electoral roll beforehand and can file any claim or objection to avoid any post facto objection or grievances.
In case of deletion, notice is issued and an opportunity given to electors for filing an objection and hearing is given.
Supervision and checks
ERO, after digitisation of claims and objections received by him, deputes the BLO concerned to make field verification in connection with the claim or objection. The BLO, after on-spot verification, submits his report to the ERO. There is a well-defined mechanism for supervision and check for enforcing strict accountability of the work performed by the BLO. The supervisor, who normally has 10 BLOs under their charge, verifies 5 per cent of each of the BLO’s verification work under them.
Above the supervisors, each assistant ERO (AERO) is to verify one per cent of the BLO’s verification work, randomly selected from different parts under him. AERO also field checks households with more than 10 electors, abnormal gender ratio, and the first 20 polling stations with highest number of additions or deletions, under their charge.
After passing the orders by AERO/ERO, super-checking of verified entries is done by the DEO, roll observers and CEOs for a specific number of entries.
The publication of the final electoral roll on Monday will reveal the actual number of additions and deletions in Delhi and may kick-start yet another political war of words.
