“Every vote deserves to be heard”: DK Shivakumar on ECI’s special drive
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar hails the Election Commission's move to identify and enrol eligible voters left out after the Special Intensive Revision.
In a significant move to strengthen democratic participation, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has welcomed the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s directive to launch a special drive aimed at identifying and enrolling eligible voters who were missed during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Taking to the social media platform X, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the electoral process, stating that “every vote deserves to be heard.” He noted that the decision follows continuous efforts to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out of the electoral rolls.
How the special drive will work
The ECI directive, issued on Thursday, outlines a meticulous process to rectify omissions. The primary task falls upon Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are tasked with a comparative analysis of the current electoral rolls against the pre-SIR records. This comparison aims to pinpoint electors whose names were previously present but have disappeared from the current lists.
To ensure accuracy, the drive will involve the following steps:
- House-to-House Visits: BLOs will conduct door-to-door visits to verify the current status of missing electors.
- Facilitating Enrolment: For those found eligible, BLOs will assist in the enrolment process using Form 6.
- Targeting New Voters: The drive will also specifically focus on identifying and enrolling first-time and young voters who may have been overlooked.
- Strict Timelines: BLOs have been instructed to cover at least 20-25 electors per week, with the goal of completing the entire exercise within approximately one month.
Transparency and Political Oversight
To maintain transparency, the lists prepared by the BLOs will not be kept private. They will be shared with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognized political parties. Furthermore, once the field verification is complete, the filled Form 6 applications and reports will be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
The EROs will then act in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. At the conclusion of the exercise, booth-wise lists will be shared with political party representatives, offering a final layer of verification to ensure all eligible voters are accounted for.
Reaching the marginalised
Recognizing that certain populations are harder to reach, the ECI has directed authorities to organize booth-level camps. These camps will be specifically designed to facilitate the enrolment of:
- People living in night shelters.
- Residents of labour colonies.
- Homeless individuals.
- Other marginalised groups.
To boost participation, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Election Officers (DEOs), and EROs have been tasked with intensive awareness campaigns. These will include outreach through educational institutions, SVEEP activities, and regular press briefings to ensure the public is aware of their right to register.
The Commission has also mandated that the progress of this special drive be closely monitored and reviewed at the highest levels of the CEO, DEO, and ERO to ensure no eligible voter is left behind.