CEO orders error-free electoral rolls under SIR drive

Hyderabad: Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy directed officials on August 3 to ensure accurate data entry by rectifying issues such as missing photographs, discrepancies in dates of birth, errors in gender details, and signature defects as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision programme in the state.

The CEO held a video conference with Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vasam Venkateswarlu regarding the SIR process conducted across Telangana. During the meeting, they reviewed proposals for the rationalisation of polling stations, the progress of their digitisation, and related matters. He instructed officials to comprehensively examine and ensure accurate data entry regarding ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate) voter lists and No Mapping cases.

In this context, the CEO issued specific directions to officials emphasizing that electoral rolls must be thoroughly scrutinised and all field-level errors rectified with utmost precision.

He ordered that all ASDD cases be re-verified and correctly categorised before taking a final decision, while implementing measures to ensure no eligible voter is excluded or erroneously deleted. If errors are identified, the roll-back facility should be utilized to re-examine records and make necessary corrections.

He stressed that field-level verification by Booth Level Officers, Booth Level Supervisors, and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers must be further strengthened, with disciplinary action initiated wherever negligence is detected.

Minutes of meetings held with BLOs must be prepared, bearing signatures of Booth Level Agents from recognised political parties, and uploaded to the official website. Special priority must be accorded to voters aged 85 and above, with their discrepancies resolved on a priority basis.

The rationalisation of polling stations must be completed within the stipulated timeframe following Election Commission of India guidelines, ensuring family members are not assigned to different polling stations.

Additionally, the Chief Electoral Officer reviewed progress made by the GHMC Commissioner and District Election Officer Hyderabad alongside District Election Officers of all urban districts. He inquired about action plans for resolving No Mapping cases, ASDD cases, inconsistencies, uncollected enumeration forms, and pending matters, directing them to prepare an error-free electoral roll.