ECI links death registry to electoral rolls
NEW DELHI, MAY 1 (MExN): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out three new initiatives aimed at enhancing the accuracy of electoral rolls and improving the voter experience ahead of future elections.
In a press note, the ECI announced that it will begin obtaining death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India. This integration, enabled under Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (amended in 2023), will allow Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to receive timely information about registered deaths, reducing the chances of deceased individuals remaining on electoral rolls.
The new system will also assist Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in conducting field verification without having to wait for formal deletion requests via Form 7.
To facilitate a smoother voting process, the ECI has also decided to redesign the Voter Information Slips (VIS). The revised format will feature larger font sizes for both the serial number and part number, making it easier for voters to identify their polling station and for polling officials to locate their names in the rolls quickly.
In another move aimed at improving public trust and identification during field visits, the Commission has mandated that all BLOs be issued standard photo identity cards. Appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, BLOs act as the first point of contact between voters and the ECI. The ID cards are intended to help citizens recognize and interact with them confidently during door-to-door voter verification and registration drives.
The initiatives align with commitments made by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Chief Electoral Officers’ Conference held earlier this year, which was also attended by Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
