Karnataka Boosts Election Team with 1,117 New AEROs
Special Commissioner Shilpa Nag announces 1,117 new AEROs in Karnataka to expedite electoral roll revision and handle millions of voter notices.
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In a massive push to streamline the electoral roll revision process, Karnataka has appointed an additional 1,117 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). This strategic move aims to accelerate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) currently underway in the Bengaluru Urban District.
LINE 8:Special Commissioner (Election) Shilpa Nag announced the decision during a press conference on Tuesday. With this significant influx of personnel, the total number of functioning AEROs in the region will rise to 1,193, providing much-needed manpower to manage the vast scale of voter verification.
LINE 9:Massive Scale of Voter Verification
LINE 10:The scale of the ongoing electoral exercise in the Bengaluru Urban District is immense. According to official data, there are more than 56 lakh electors within the GBA jurisdiction. To ensure the accuracy of these lists, the administration has already generated over 24 lakh notices.
LINE 11:Shilpa Nag confirmed that 100 per cent of these notices have been served to the respective individuals. However, the task ahead remains significant, as 3,70,329 hearings regarding these notices are currently pending. To tackle this backlog, the department has established 814 hearing centres across the jurisdiction.
LINE 12:New SOP: No Need to Visit Offices for Hearings
LINE 13:In a major relief for citizens, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has implemented a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) designed to make the process hassle-free. If a voter receives a notice due to discrepancies in their records or if document verification is required for Form-6 or Form-7, they may not need to travel to a hearing centre.
LINE 14:Under the new guidelines:
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- Doorstep Verification: Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) or Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the voter's residence to collect and verify necessary documents. LINE 17:
- Digital Uploads: Once verified at the doorstep, officers will upload the documents directly online. LINE 18:
- Online Hearings: In specific cases, the ERO may decide to conduct hearings through online platforms to save time and effort for the public. LINE 19:
Application Status and Deadlines
LINE 21:The revision process has seen a high volume of activity. So far, 5,42,893 applications related to Forms 6, 7, and 8 have been received. While 1,02,712 of these have been successfully processed and accepted, a substantial number—3,89,698 applications—remain pending. The administration has assured that these will be disposed of strictly in accordance with ECI rules.
LINE 22:The focus remains heavily on inclusivity, particularly for first-time voters. The ECI has directed that Form-6 be made readily available to all citizens who have turned 18 or those whose names were previously missing from the rolls. Following the completion of the current intensive revision, special camps and campaigns will be launched to ensure no eligible voter is left behind.
LINE 23:The final electoral roll, following this comprehensive Special Intensive Revision, is scheduled to be published on October 27.