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ECI Mandates Daily Reports on Bengal Voter Verification Amid Controversy

The Election Commission of India has mandated that Electoral Registration Officers and District Electoral Officers submit separate daily reports on the progress of voter document verification. This directive comes amid controversies and is part of a stringent two-stage verification process supervised by micro-observers and special roll observers. The process currently focuses on "unmapped" voters not linked to the 2002 electoral list, with a later stage for "logical discrepancy" cases. The final voters' list is scheduled for publication on February 14, ahead of the crucial West Bengal Assembly elections.

Key Points: ECI Orders Daily Voter Document Verification Reports in Bengal

  • Daily verification reports ordered
  • Two-stage document authentication process
  • Micro-observers to monitor hearings
  • Final voters' list due Feb 14
  • Process targets "unmapped" voters
2 min read

Bengal SIR: ECI seeks daily report from EROs, DEOs on document verification progress

Election Commission directs daily progress reports from EROs and DEOs on voter document verification for West Bengal's final electoral roll.

"The Commission believes that the daily and separate reports... are necessary for speedy progress - CEO Office Source"

Kolkata, Jan 17

Amid controversies over the identity-proof document verification during SIR, the Election Commission of India has directed the Electoral Registration Officers and the District Magistrates, who are also the District Electoral Officers, to send separate reports on the progress of document verification daily henceforth.

The Commission, at the same time, had also directed the EROs and DEOs to follow a two-stage document verification process, the first by the EROs and the second by the DEOs, sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said.

At the same time, the Commission had also specified the roles of the special roll observers and micro-observers in the process of document authentication.

On one hand, the CEO's office sources said, the micro-observers present at the hearing centres will thoroughly supervise whether the supporting identity documents furnished by voters during the hearing session are being checked by EROs and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) as per the guidelines set by the ECI.

At the same time, the micro-observers have been asked to bring to the notice of the Commission any major and large-scale deviation from the ECI-set guidelines.

On the other hand, the Commission had also authorised the special roll observers to conduct random checking of the documents verified and authenticated by the DMs, as well as the DEOs, at the second stage of authentication.

"The Commission believes that the daily and separate reports on document verification by the EROs and the DEOs are necessary for speedy progress in the matter, considering that the final voters' list will be published on February 14," said a source in the CEO's office.

Currently, the hearing sessions are on for the "unmapped" voters, who have no link with the 2002 voters' list in West Bengal, either through "self-mapping" or "progeny-mapping".

In the second stage, "logical discrepancy" cases, people with weird family tree data identified during "progeny-mapping", will be summoned for hearings.

The final voters' list will be published on February 14. Shortly after that, the Commission is expected to announce the polling dates for the crucial Assembly elections in West Bengal scheduled later this year.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally! The two-stage verification with micro-observers is needed. In a politically sensitive state like Bengal, we can't afford any doubts about the electoral roll. Hope this ensures a free and fair election.
A
Aman W
While the intent is good, I hope this doesn't create unnecessary bureaucratic delays for genuine voters. The process should be rigorous but also citizen-friendly. The focus should be on inclusion, not exclusion.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the technical terms like "progeny-mapping" and "logical discrepancy". The process seems quite detailed. Hope the officials on the ground are properly trained to handle this complex verification.
V
Vikram M
The deadline is February 14th, so daily reporting makes sense. But will the ECI act on the reports promptly? Identifying "weird family tree data" sounds challenging. The entire exercise must be beyond political reproach.
K
Kavya N
As a Bengali, I welcome this. Our state's elections are always under scrutiny. A clean voter list is the foundation of democracy. Hope the "special roll observers" are truly independent and effective.

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