No Place for Errors in Electoral Rolls, Says CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Deoghar/Dumka: Stressing the importance of an accurate electoral roll, Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar on Monday said that a flawless voter list forms the strongest pillar of democracy and that the inclusion of any non-citizen in the voters’ list goes against the Constitution.

After holding meetings with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in Deoghar and Dumka districts, the CEC told the media that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been launched in 12 states and will soon be extended across the country to preserve the purity of the electoral system.

He said that democratic celebrations such as general elections derive their true meaning only when based on a fully accurate and verified voter list.

During his two-day tour of the districts, Gyanesh Kumar engaged with BLOs on key aspects of the electoral process, including voter list cleansing, transparency, and the conduct of fair elections.

The CEC explained that the SIR mechanism is citizen-friendly and transparent, allowing claims and objections even after the preparation of the draft electoral roll at the district level. He further noted that citizens are given an additional month for verification and appeals if they miss the initial stage.

He confirmed that the SIR exercise will also be undertaken in Jharkhand in due course.

Speaking at an interaction programme held at Shri Shri Mohananand Vidyalaya in Tapovan, Deoghar, Gyanesh Kumar termed Booth Level Officers as the invisible force that sustains democracy, stating that while voter lists are its foundation, BLOs are its backbone.

Reiterating the Election Commission’s resolve, he said efforts are focused on ensuring that every eligible Indian citizen is included in the electoral rolls.

Referring to earlier verification challenges, the CEC pointed out that the absence of official identity cards for BLOs often led to suspicion among the public. He added that the Election Commission has now issued official ID cards to address the concern.

He also reviewed the overall electoral preparedness in Jharkhand and expressed confidence that the intensive revision process, when implemented, would be carried out with utmost transparency and impartiality.

With inputs from IANS