Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office has launched a special drive to identify and enrol eligible voters whose names are missing from the current electoral rolls, with a particular focus on first-time electors.
Under the campaign, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will undertake house-to-house verification and have been tasked with adding around 20-25 eligible voters at each polling booth within a month.
The CEO’s office has directed District Election Officers, Collectors, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Electoral Registration Officers to ensure effective implementation of the drive.
As part of the exercise, BLOs will compare the current electoral rolls with those prepared before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and identify voters whose names figured in the earlier rolls but are absent from the present rolls.
The BLOs will subsequently visit the households of such voters to verify their current status. Those found eligible will be assisted in filing Form-6 for inclusion in the electoral rolls.
The lists prepared during the exercise will also be shared with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties.
After field verification, the filled-in Form-6 applications along with verification reports will be forwarded to the concerned EROs, who will take necessary action in accordance with election laws and rules.
Following completion of the campaign, booth-wise lists will be shared with representatives of recognised political parties to facilitate the enrolment of eligible voters left out of the electoral rolls.
The authorities have also directed officials to organise Booth Level Camps for voter enrolment. Special camps may be held, wherever required, for people living in night shelters, labour settlements, homeless persons and other vulnerable or marginalised groups.
