Maharashtra SIR: BLOs to accept voter documents on WhatsApp, verify them at homes if needed

Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam has directed Booth Level Officers BLOs to accept documents sent by voters through WhatsApp during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls and visit their homes for verification when requiredPeople who receive notices generated through the ECINet system can respond by sending the required documents to their respective BLOs through WhatsApp a state election official said on WednesdayldquoThe BLOs have been asked to visit homes for verification of the documents sent if requiredrdquo he saidThe move is aimed at easing the verification process for voters who have received notices over discrepancies or issues related to their entries in the draft electoral roll The Election Commission has already allowed BLOs to collect supporting documents from voters at their homes and upload them to ECINet for consideration by Electoral Registration Officers EROsPersonal appearance not routinely requiredUnder the revised procedure voters issued notices do not have to routinely appear in person for hearings BLOs can collect the necessary documents and submit them through the system with personal hearings reserved for cases where the documents provided are insufficient or further verification is requiredThe Maharashtra election office had earlier sought changes to ECINet to give EROs greater flexibility in handling cases involving discrepancies in electoral rollsChockalingam had requested that EROs be allowed to decide which cases require hearings determine whether documents submitted by electors are sufficient and dispose of certain cases themselves The Election Commission has since allowed some of the requested changes including the option of exempting voters from personal hearings where the documents submitted are considered satisfactoryCongress raises concerns over ECINetThe changes to the ECINet system have also triggered political criticismThe Opposition Congress has alleged that the software could limit the statutory powers of EROs to decide voter eligibility and handle discrepancies in electoral rolls These are allegations by the party and have been disputed by the Election CommissionThe Election Commission has said field officers have rolebased access to ECINet in accordance with their statutory powers It has also said a committee headed by a senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT will review the system for compliance with existing laws and rulesMaharashtra SIR deadline extended to October 12The Election Commission has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections under the SIR in Maharashtra from September 30 to October 12The deadline for disposing of notices claims and objections has been extended to November 10 while the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 16The extension followed a request from the Maharashtra election office amid the large number of cases being handled during the notice phaseThe draft electoral roll published on August 31 excluded the names of a large number of electors whose enumeration forms could not be collected or whose entries were flagged for discrepancies The election authorities have said such cases do not amount to final deletion and that affected electors can seek inclusion or correction through the prescribed processECI says SIR decisions were unanimousThe latest developments come amid a wider dispute over the functioning of the Election Commission and the ECINet systemOpposition parties have criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over decisions relating to the SIR and alleged that some decisions were taken without the concurrence of other election commissionersThe Election Commission has rejected the allegations and said decisions relating to the SIR were taken unanimously by the threemember commissionWith inputs from PTI