ECI Urges Timely Action on Electoral Roll Errors

The Election Commission of India (ECI) emphasized the importance of raising electoral roll errors during the 'Claims and Objections' period, not belatedly. Despite recent claims from political parties, timely scrutiny could have corrected genuine mistakes. A new voter outreach campaign by Congress highlights voting rights amidst alleged electoral roll issues.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has pointed out that the appropriate period to address issues with the electoral rolls is during the 'Claims and Objections' phase. This provision aims to ensure any discrepancies are resolved promptly. Recently, political parties have raised concerns over past errors, but the constitutional body reiterates that these should have been addressed sooner.

The commission distributes digital and physical copies of the electoral rolls to recognized political parties after they are finalized and published on its website. An official EC release stated that the claims and objections mechanisms are designed precisely for this purpose, to facilitate error correction during the designated timeframe. Raising issues later hinders effective resolution of genuine mistakes before elections.

The EC reported receiving 28,370 claims and objections following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, disposing of 857 so far. Despite the post-SIR draft list's publication on August 1, no additional claims or objections have been submitted by any political party. The EC also noted that any deletion from the list requires a 'speaking order' after necessary inquiries.

In a political move, Congress has launched the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, led by Rahul Gandhi. The campaign aims to spotlight voting rights and address alleged irregularities in the SIR process. Spanning over 20 districts and covering 1,300 kilometers in 16 days, this yatra seeks to highlight the importance of the 'one person, one vote' principle.

(With inputs from agencies.)