Assistant BLO: Big Relief for BLOs! Assistants to be Appointed for Voter List Revision in Booths with Over 1200 Voters

Assistant BLO: The National Election Commission has taken a significant step to streamline the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. From now on, Assistant Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be appointed to work alongside the primary BLOs. This new provision will be applicable in polling booths where the number of voters exceeds 1200. This decision is seen as a major relief, coming after long-standing complaints from BLOs regarding excessive workload and political pressure.

Why the Decision to Appoint Assistant BLOs?

For the past several years, BLOs have been raising concerns about the immense workload they face during the SIR process. In addition to their primary duties, they often have to deal with pressure from various political parties, making their job even more challenging. BLOs had formally complained to the Election Commission about these issues on multiple occasions. When a special team from the Election Commission visited the state recently, the BLOs reiterated their grievances. After carefully considering these complaints, the National Election Commission decided to appoint Assistant BLOs to ease their burden. This move is expected to expedite the process and ensure a more accurate and error-free voter list.

How Will the SIR Process Unfold?

According to sources in the Election Commission, the upcoming SIR in the state will be conducted in three distinct phases and is expected to take approximately three months to complete.

• Phase 1: In the first phase, BLOs and their assistants will conduct door-to-door visits to every voter’s residence. They will carry enumeration forms and verify all the voter-related information. This entire verification process is estimated to take around 30 to 35 days.
• Phase 2: Upon completion of the first phase, a draft voter list will be published. Following its publication, a window will be opened for citizens to file claims or suggest additions/corrections. Political parties will also be able to submit their claims during this period.
• Phase 3: All claims and objections will be forwarded to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for scrutiny. The ERO will re-verify all the information. If everything is found to be in order, the final voter list will be published approximately seven days later.

The Commission has also issued a directive stating that no official or staff member involved in the SIR process can be transferred during this period. Typically, the final voter list is published in early January each year, but it might be slightly delayed this time due to the intensive SIR process. In another significant move, teachers appointed as BLOs will only be assigned SIR-related duties, which is a major relief for them. Overall, this massive electoral exercise is set to begin in the state within the next few days.