THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 1: In a move to strengthen electoral transparency and improve voter services, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out three new initiatives aimed at refining the accuracy of electoral rolls and enhancing the efficiency of its field operations.
Digital Verification of Death Records to Improve Voter List Accuracy
One of the key reforms includes the integration of digital death registration data from the Registrar General of India. This will allow Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to receive prompt updates on reported deaths, enabling quicker removal of deceased individuals from the voter list.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will verify this data during routine field visits, eliminating the need for Form 7 applications for deletion requests. The move aligns with the provisions of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and the updated Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
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Photo ID Cards for BLOs to Enhance Field-Level Transparency
To improve public trust and identification during field operations, the Commission will now issue official photo ID cards to all BLOs. These officers, appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, are responsible for on-ground verification.
The new IDs are expected to make BLOs more easily recognizable during voter registration and verification campaigns, especially during door-to-door visits.
Redesigned Voter Slips for Better Usability
A third reform focuses on improving the design of the Voter Information Slips (VIS). The Commission has revised the layout to display serial and part numbers in larger fonts, simplifying the process for voters to locate their polling stations and for officials to trace names in the electoral rolls.
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These changes were deliberated at the Chief Electoral Officers’ Conference held in March 2025, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
According to the ECI, the initiatives are part of its broader strategy to modernise electoral procedures and promote more seamless interaction between voters and election staff.
