19, 727 possible duplicate electors in Nagaland

Final E-Roll 2017 in Nagaland stands at 11, 38, 215

Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 29  

The Nagaland State Election Department has identified 19, 727 possible duplicate electors in Nagaland State.  

This figure was made available during a press conference convened by the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland here today in connection with Special Drive 2017, scheduled from July 1 till 31.  

Out of a population of 19, 78, 502 as per 2011 census, the final published E-Roll 2017 in Nagaland stands at 11, 38, 215.   In tune with this year’s theme ‘No voters to be left behind,’ the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to utilize the period of continuous updation for enrolment of eligible left out voters with focus on first time electors in the age group of 18-21.  

Chief Electoral Officer (O) Nagaland, N Moa Aier told the media persons that the Election Department is trying its best to cleanse the E/Roll. The department had a meeting with political parties and NGOs two weeks back and all extended support for cleansing E/Roll for conduct of clean election 2018, he informed.  

Aier said the modes of submission and receiving of forms from applicants giving priority to left out eligible voters of 18-21 age group will be the ERO office, through BLO, by post, and online submission through NVSP portal of ECI.  

He further informed that BLOs would visit door to door to collect Form 6 from the applicants, particularly in the 18-21 age group during the drive period.

National Call Centre

The Commission has provided a National Contact Centre for extending citizen services. At the state level, CEO will provide State Contact Centre and District Contact Centre at the district level by upgrading on the same line as the National Contact Centre. The National Contact Centre Toll free number is 1800111950.  

Special Campaign

Special campaigns will be organized on July 8 and July 22, with camps held at each polling station. Special camps are also to be conducted in all government and private educational institutions on at least any 2 different days between July 1 and 31.  

Removal of names of dead electors

For identification of dead electors, data on registered deaths will be collected from the Registrar of Deaths/concerned authority and all registered death entries should be removed during the special drive. In cases of deceased electors, ERO can make deletion on the basis of death certificate from competent authority or Form 7 from immediate relatives/neighbors of the elector concerned or a report duly prepared by the BLO with statement of at least two persons residing in the locality.  

Removal of multiple entries in the electoral roll

The elector de-duplication exercise is set to be undertaken during the special drive by deleting multiple entries in the electoral roll. Following due procedure, the ERO can take Suo-Moto action by issuing 7 days notice.  

Meeting with political parties

CEOs and DEOs will also arrange meetings with recognized political parties at the state/district level during the special drive seeking their cooperation for registration of electors, particularly young electors. Further, the political parties would also be requested to appoint Booth Level Agents for all polling stations to assists BLOs during the special drive.  

Measures undertaken by SVEEP cell

The number of registered Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in E/Roll of Nagaland is 1687 as against 29,000 recorded in the 2011 census. For them, a separate database is being created so that during future conduct of elections, they would be given special facilitation on day of poll etc.  

The number of registered youth in 18-19 years age group in E/Roll compared to corresponding projected population of the state is only 18.43 %.  

Regarding Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), it was informed that not a single NRI has been registered in Nagaland. “It is illegal to register names of NRIs as general electors in their native polling stations. Hence BLOs shall approach the close relatives of those NRIs and leave Form 6 for submission of filled in Forms. If any NRI is found registered on the contrary, the name shall be struck off from the roll after observing due processes,” the CEO cautioned.  

Meanwhile respective District Election Officers are required to issue instruction to heads of all higher secondary schools, colleges and vocational institutes to conduct special campaigns on July 14 and 28 to register newly eligible voters in the 18-19 age group.