New Delhi, Dec 23 (UNI) The Election Commission on Tuesday published the draft electoral rolls for Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This release marks a critical step in the periodic SIR process, designed to ensure that the nation’s voter database remains current and error-free.
To ensure transparency and widespread availability, the ECI has implemented a multi-channel distribution strategy: Political Parties: Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Electoral Officers (DEOs) are providing hard copies of the draft rolls to all recognized political parties to facilitate grassroots verification.
General Public: Citizens can access the rolls digitally through the official websites of their respective state or UT CEOs. Data Cleaning Lists: In a move to enhance accuracy, the Commission has also published specific lists of Absent, Shifted, Deceased, and Duplicate (ASDD) voters. This allows the public to identify entries that should be removed or corrected.
The publication of draft rolls is a standard but vital constitutional exercise.
Typically occurring annually or ahead of major elections: Inclusion: Allowing citizens who have recently turned 18 to register as new voters. Purging Errors: Removing the names of deceased individuals or those who have moved to different constituencies to prevent fraudulent voting.
Accuracy: Correcting clerical errors in names, addresses, or voter ID details. By maintaining a “clean” roll, the ECI minimizes disputes on polling day and ensures that the democratic process is both inclusive and transparent. The ECI said it encourages all eligible residents in these regions to verify their status.
If there is an error or if a name is missing, one can: File a Claim: Submit a request for inclusion if you are eligible but not listed.
Raise an Objection: Alert authorities if an entry is incorrect or if a name should be removed (e.g., a deceased family member). These claims and objections must be submitted to the relevant DEO or Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) within the designated window provided by the state’s election calendar.
EC releases draft electoral rolls for 3 states, UT; public review now open
