ELECTORAL ROLL MANAGEMENT Presentation by D.K.Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, New Delhi

Importance of Electoral Roll in Democracy Electoral Roll is the basic document for holding Election in a Democracy. Electoral Roll is the basic document for holding Election in a Democracy. Names of all eligible Citizens are recorded and maintained in Electoral Roll as electors. Names of all eligible Citizens are recorded and maintained in Electoral Roll as electors. Accuracy and purity of rolls are therefore corner stone for holding the elections. Accuracy and purity of rolls are therefore corner stone for holding the elections. Any inaccuracy are insufficiency in coverage of the electors not only becomes an issue but also impacts the election process as such. Any inaccuracy are insufficiency in coverage of the electors not only becomes an issue but also impacts the election process as such.

Process of Electoral Roll preparation Electoral roll is prepared under the superintendence, directions and control of Election Commission of India which has been vested with these powers under Article 324 (1) of the Constitution of India. Electoral roll is prepared under the superintendence, directions and control of Election Commission of India which has been vested with these powers under Article 324 (1) of the Constitution of India. Electoral Revisions and up-dation are undertaken in following manners:- Electoral Revisions and up-dation are undertaken in following manners:- 1. Intensive Revision 2. Summary Revision 3. Partly intensive and Partly summary. 4. Special Summary Revision 5. Continuous up-dation The Electoral Rolls in Delhi and any other parts of country are prepared constituency wise. The Electoral Rolls in Delhi and any other parts of country are prepared constituency wise.

Eligibility for Registration in Electoral Roll Eligibility 1. A person should be a citizen of India. 2. Should not be less than eighteen years of age on the qualifying date as prescribed by the ECI. 3.Should be an ordinary resident of the Constituency. Disqualification:- As per section 16 A of RPA of 1950 following are disqualification:- 1. Is not a citizen of India. 2. Is of unsound mind and declared so by competent court. 3. Is disqualified from voting under the provisions of any law relating to corrupt practices and other election related offences.

The issues and problems in the Preparation and Maintenance of Electoral Rolls Preparation of Electoral Rolls in Metropolitan City like Delhi which has more population than a country like Newzeland is a mammoth task. Preparation of Electoral Rolls in Metropolitan City like Delhi which has more population than a country like Newzeland is a mammoth task. There is no permanent machinery for preparation and maintenance in most of the States. There is no permanent machinery for preparation and maintenance in most of the States. Despite establishment of VRECs for regular Electoral Registration/Up-dation, work of EROs is the additional responsibility of the ADMs/SDMs. Despite establishment of VRECs for regular Electoral Registration/Up-dation, work of EROs is the additional responsibility of the ADMs/SDMs. Illiteracy amongs the people even in Metropolitan City like Delhi. Illiteracy amongs the people even in Metropolitan City like Delhi.

Lack of interests during the non election period on the part of electors and political parties. Lack of interests during the non election period on the part of electors and political parties. Non submission of the requisite details in the case of people coming to reside in Delhi from other parts of the country. Non submission of the requisite details in the case of people coming to reside in Delhi from other parts of the country. Migratory nature of the population specially in Metropolitan city like Delhi. Migratory nature of the population specially in Metropolitan city like Delhi. Frequent shifting of residence by the electors either within the ACs or across the ACs resulting in duplication in the registration of such voters in the Roll. Frequent shifting of residence by the electors either within the ACs or across the ACs resulting in duplication in the registration of such voters in the Roll.

Non availability of a regular cadre of BLOs with the EROs and Non availability of sufficient number of BLOs to be appointed for each Polling Station. Non availability of a regular cadre of BLOs with the EROs and Non availability of sufficient number of BLOs to be appointed for each Polling Station. Lack of proper accountability at the level of BLOs in the context of such duties being additional work. Lack of proper accountability at the level of BLOs in the context of such duties being additional work. Lack of interest or resistance on the part of the department in deputing the officials from their department for performing additional duties as BLOs. Lack of interest or resistance on the part of the department in deputing the officials from their department for performing additional duties as BLOs. Non-availability of sanctioned strength of the staff in the department itself. Non-availability of sanctioned strength of the staff in the department itself.

Indifferent attitude amongs political parties in attending meetings with the DEOs during non election period in the process of preparation of electoral rolls as also inaction on their part in appointing Booth Level Agents (BLAs). Indifferent attitude amongs political parties in attending meetings with the DEOs during non election period in the process of preparation of electoral rolls as also inaction on their part in appointing Booth Level Agents (BLAs). Mass displacement of electors due to demolition/removal of jhuggies or unauthorized places of residence. Mass displacement of electors due to demolition/removal of jhuggies or unauthorized places of residence. Difficulties in identification of the citizenship of the applicants specially in the clusters/ unorganized structures. Difficulties in identification of the citizenship of the applicants specially in the clusters/ unorganized structures. Non-cooperation of public during the period of receiving claims and objection in checking their names and particulars in the published draft rolls and even during the door to door survey by the BLOs. Non-cooperation of public during the period of receiving claims and objection in checking their names and particulars in the published draft rolls and even during the door to door survey by the BLOs.

Difficulties in achieving 100 percent image coverage because of non- cooperative attitude of those who were issued EPICs in the past and where such images could not be retrieved and integrated with current rolls. Difficulties in achieving 100 percent image coverage because of non- cooperative attitude of those who were issued EPICs in the past and where such images could not be retrieved and integrated with current rolls. Mushrooming of large number of unauthorized clusters, residential colonies. Mushrooming of large number of unauthorized clusters, residential colonies.

Initiatives in Delhi for regular preparation/maintenance of Electoral Rolls and issues of EPICs Wider publicity/awareness campaigns were launched through various electronic and print media. Wider publicity/awareness campaigns were launched through various electronic and print media. For the summary revision, for the year 2011 communication have been addressed directly by the CEO, Delhi to HODs of the Universities, Colleges, schools and other prestigious institutions with supportive infrastructure for inclusion of names of students in the Electoral Rolls to maximize the Youth Coverage in the Roll. For the summary revision, for the year 2011 communication have been addressed directly by the CEO, Delhi to HODs of the Universities, Colleges, schools and other prestigious institutions with supportive infrastructure for inclusion of names of students in the Electoral Rolls to maximize the Youth Coverage in the Roll. Appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for each Polling stations by drawing officials from various departments. Appointment of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for each Polling stations by drawing officials from various departments. Appointment of supervisors over minimum five to ten BLOs for the supervision of the working of BLOs. Appointment of supervisors over minimum five to ten BLOs for the supervision of the working of BLOs. Identification of designated locations within the doorstep of the electors for filing claims and objections. Identification of designated locations within the doorstep of the electors for filing claims and objections. Identification of officials to be appointed as Incharge of the designated locations and other supporting staff to facilitate the prospective electors to file their claims and objections at the locations setup for this purpose. Identification of officials to be appointed as Incharge of the designated locations and other supporting staff to facilitate the prospective electors to file their claims and objections at the locations setup for this purpose.

Setting up of Voter Registration and EPICs centre at a centralized place of each Assembly Constituency for the convenience of the public. Setting up of Voter Registration and EPICs centre at a centralized place of each Assembly Constituency for the convenience of the public. Appointment of AEROs and other supporting staff to provide access to the public in filing claims and objections round the year. Appointment of AEROs and other supporting staff to provide access to the public in filing claims and objections round the year. Interaction with various RWAs and Market Traders Associations to encourage the public for registration of eligible persons in the electoral rolls. Interaction with various RWAs and Market Traders Associations to encourage the public for registration of eligible persons in the electoral rolls. Organization of intensive training schedule for BLOs, Supervisors and Designated officers to familiarize them with the procedure to be adopted by them while recommending enrollment of any persons or otherwise in the electoral rolls. Organization of intensive training schedule for BLOs, Supervisors and Designated officers to familiarize them with the procedure to be adopted by them while recommending enrollment of any persons or otherwise in the electoral rolls.

Special efforts in preparation of error free rolls. Direct communication to educational institutional Heads for encouraging the students in enrolling themselves alongwith the necessary support system. Direct communication to educational institutional Heads for encouraging the students in enrolling themselves alongwith the necessary support system. The concept of Table Top Checking of the various claims and objections was conceived and implemented successfully all over Delhi. The concept of Table Top Checking of the various claims and objections was conceived and implemented successfully all over Delhi. The basic idea behind this exercise was to receive forms complete in all respect and to delete duplicate names. The basic idea behind this exercise was to receive forms complete in all respect and to delete duplicate names. A system of multi layer checking was also put into place all over Delhi. A system of multi layer checking was also put into place all over Delhi. In this system 100% checking was done by the BLOs followed by 20% by the Supervisor of the work done by the BLOs. In this system 100% checking was done by the BLOs followed by 20% by the Supervisor of the work done by the BLOs. Another layer of checking by the EROs/AEROs was also a part of the exercise. Another layer of checking by the EROs/AEROs was also a part of the exercise. Random checking of the five percent of the verification conducted at the level of District Election officer of each District in Delhi for ascertaining the accuracy and appropriateness of the rolls. Random checking of the five percent of the verification conducted at the level of District Election officer of each District in Delhi for ascertaining the accuracy and appropriateness of the rolls.

Appointment of Special Observers by the ECI for ensuring accuracy and coverage of electors in the rolls by the EROs. Appointment of Special Observers by the ECI for ensuring accuracy and coverage of electors in the rolls by the EROs. Deployment of Special teams by the ECI to ensure that the electoral rolls are properly prepared. Deployment of Special teams by the ECI to ensure that the electoral rolls are properly prepared. Delivery of EPICs at the resident address of the Electors through the BLOs. Delivery of EPICs at the resident address of the Electors through the BLOs.

Suggestions Since VRECs centres have been established on permanent basis, regular staff should be posted for manning the each centre instead of present system of ad-hoc appointees/daily wagers. Since VRECs centres have been established on permanent basis, regular staff should be posted for manning the each centre instead of present system of ad-hoc appointees/daily wagers. To address the issues of non-availability of sufficient number of BLOs, instructions needs to be issued by the ECI to the concerned department while BLOs duties are assigned to their officers. To address the issues of non-availability of sufficient number of BLOs, instructions needs to be issued by the ECI to the concerned department while BLOs duties are assigned to their officers. Political parties need to be addressed at the highest level for appointment of BLAs to ensure accuracy and purity of rolls. Political parties need to be addressed at the highest level for appointment of BLAs to ensure accuracy and purity of rolls. In the absence of the interests from such parties they should be barred from making representations at a subsequent stage. In the absence of the interests from such parties they should be barred from making representations at a subsequent stage.

During revision all the designated locations in Delhi should be linked with the Central server in a manner that the daily receipt of claims and objections should automatically transmits to the central server and the concerned VRECs. During revision all the designated locations in Delhi should be linked with the Central server in a manner that the daily receipt of claims and objections should automatically transmits to the central server and the concerned VRECs. Data base of the electoral rolls of the all the state should be interlinked so that cross verification could be conducted by the EROs in respect of voter shifting from one constituency to another. Data base of the electoral rolls of the all the state should be interlinked so that cross verification could be conducted by the EROs in respect of voter shifting from one constituency to another. NCT of Delhi has a vast pool of community mobilizers at the Gender Resource Centre (GRC)/District Resource Centre (DRC) under the Samajik Suvidha Scheme. NCT of Delhi has a vast pool of community mobilizers at the Gender Resource Centre (GRC)/District Resource Centre (DRC) under the Samajik Suvidha Scheme.

This pool could be utilized for community education, mobilization and participation as an effective tool for ensuring the coverage as also the accuracy of the details of the electors. This pool could be utilized for community education, mobilization and participation as an effective tool for ensuring the coverage as also the accuracy of the details of the electors. In Delhi we have more than 250 Jeevan Kendras providing various facilities to the public at single window system. The services of these Jeevan Kendras could be utilized for maximization of image coverage and improvement in the electoral roll. In Delhi we have more than 250 Jeevan Kendras providing various facilities to the public at single window system. The services of these Jeevan Kendras could be utilized for maximization of image coverage and improvement in the electoral roll.