According to the SEC, voter lists prepared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Assembly constituencies are used for all local self-government elections, including municipal corporations, etc. without altering original names or addresses
The SEC has asked officials to verify and take necessary measures to remove possible duplicate names in voter lists. Representational Pic/File
The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has directed officials to verify and take necessary measures to remove possible duplicate names in voter lists ahead of coming local body elections in state, reported the PTI.
According to the SEC, voter lists prepared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Assembly constituencies are used for all local self-government elections, including municipal corporations, municipal councils, nagar panchayats, zilla parishads, and panchayat samitis, without altering original names or addresses.
In the preliminary or final local body voter lists, names suspected to be duplicated are marked with a double asterisk (**). Local verification will determine whether such entries belong to the same individual or different persons. After preliminary checks of name, gender, address, and photograph, the voter will be asked to submit a declaration specifying the exact polling station or division where they intend to vote. The voter will not be allowed to vote at any other polling station, the SEC statement said, according to the PTI.
If no response is received from a voter marked as a possible duplicate, and the person turns up at a polling station, they will be required to give a written undertaking affirming that they have not voted elsewhere. Only after strict verification of their identity they will be permitted to cast their vote, the SEC said, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, in an another development, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday activated its ‘Book-a-Call with BLO’ and its voter helpline number to handle queries of the citizens, officials said.
In an initiative to improve voter assistance, the ECI has also introduced a new feature called ‘Book-a-Call with BLO’, allowing citizens to directly contact their Booth Level Officer (BLO) through the ECINET platform.
The Election Commission urged voters to use the ‘Book-a-Call with BLO’ feature and the dedicated voter helpline number – 1950 – for any election-related information, feedback, suggestions, or complaints.
The Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued an official notification in connection with the development.
The aim, it said, is to ensure that voters’ concerns are resolved promptly, efficiently and transparently.
The National Contact Centre (NCC) will function as a unified helpline for all states and union territories. Operating daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM through the toll-free number 1800-11-1950, trained executives will handle calls to assist citizens and other stakeholders with electoral services and queries.
The Commission added that these facilities will complement the existing grievance redressal systems. Citizens can also email their complaints to complaints@eci.gov.in for further assistance.
(with PTI inputs)
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