Congress flags gaps in voter facilitation centres

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately strengthen voter facilitation arrangements for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that administrative lapses could lead to the exclusion of genuine electors.

In a representation submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner by Ramesh Babu, KPCC Media and Communication Department Chairman and MLC, the party claimed that the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, had failed to establish adequate facilitation centres to assist voters in obtaining, filling, and submitting enumeration forms.

The Congress said that although the SIR exercise began with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) undertaking house-to-house visits from June 30, nearly half of the eligible households were yet to receive enumeration forms midway through the exercise. It contended that many voters had been unable to submit their forms because of administrative shortcomings rather than any fault on their part.

Extend deadline 

The party urged the ECI to direct the CEO to establish facilitation centres in every polling station area, ensure they are adequately staffed, continue door-to-door distribution until every eligible household is covered and extend the deadline for the submission of forms until complete coverage is achieved.

The representation sought that no elector should be deleted solely because an enumeration form could not be submitted owing to the non-service of forms or inadequate facilitation. It further called for a State-level monitoring mechanism, district grievance redressal centres, daily publication of district-wise progress on form distribution and collection, and special assistance for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and rural voters.