Jharkhand News: Palamu DC highlights electoral roll purity, outlines preparations for assembly polls
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Advertisement Daltonganj, Aug. 28: Palamu’s electoral roll purity was among the best in the state during the…
Palamu DC Shashi Ranjan
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Aug. 28: Palamu’s electoral roll purity was among the best in the state during the recent Lok Sabha election. According to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shashi Ranjan, Palamu had an impressive 0.01% error rate in its electoral rolls, a performance he described as “hard-earned.”
Shashi Ranjan remarked, “Electoral roll purity is the first major step towards fair and free polling.”
“This coming Vidhan Sabha election we have seriously worked on it. Duplicate voters were expunged. Dead voters exited from the electoral rolls. Shifted ones were put in the right location. Absent voters were counted,” the DC said.
“This is a very big exercise. It’s H2H (house-to-house survey.) It’s matching of VIS (voter information slip) with the actual voters in H2H. Who is in and who is out has been surveyed,” he added.
Electoral roll survey and data collection
The DC detailed the extensive house-to-house (H2H) survey undertaken to match voter information slips (VIS) with actual voters. This process, which began on January 22, 2024, and concluded on August 27, 2024, with the final publication of the electoral rolls, reflects continuous efforts to update the rolls in line with guidelines from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
During this period, 56,498 voters were removed from the rolls, including deletions from the recent second special summary revision. Concurrently, 66,679 new voters were added, demonstrating active and diligent work by booth-level officers.
The DC also mentioned that 95,809 voters’ cards were upgraded and replaced due to issues like blurriness or outdated formats. The total number of voters exceeds 1.7 million, with female voters outnumbering males.
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Streamlining the voting process
The DC emphasized that even though the second special summary revision is complete, eligible voters still have until 10 days before the election to enrol. He acknowledged issues like mismatched photos and errors in names, which are being addressed under ECI directives.
The DC made it clear “It’s true second special summary revision for the electoral rolls is over. Tuesday was the day of the final publication of the electoral rolls. Right. However, an eligible still to be enrolled has time till 10 days ahead of the actual date for the voting. So where is the problem or anxiety?”
Shashi Ranjan also discussed efforts to reduce the time a voter spends at the booth. While the ideal voting time is 90 seconds, the reality often sees voters taking 4 to 5 minutes. The DC noted that the ECI is strict about adhering to the 90-second standard and is working to expedite the process for both voters and polling staff. This includes issuing voter information slips with serial numbers to speed up the process.
“Look a voter gets voter information slip. Now it will have his serial number. It will help the polling party to speed up as precious minutes are lost in finding out his serial number,” he said.
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Voter turnout management
The DC agreed that there are personnel slow and tardy in some polling parties who consume more and more seconds. The sluggishness has to be replaced with faster mobility for the casting of votes. This sluggishness that eats into time has to be curbed DC reminded. He then gave the numerical strength of the voters at the booth.
To manage voter turnout, the DC explained that rural booths with over 1,200 voters and urban booths with over 1,400 voters would be staffed by a five-member polling team, including an additional officer (P4). This reinforcement is expected to shorten queues and streamline voting.
Rural booths if they have 1200 plus voters will be manned by 5 member team of the polling party. There will be a P4 here for such a booth.
Similarly in urban booths having 1400 plus voters, there will be the same 5-member polling party that is additional P4.
The DC hoped with the reinforcement of 1 poll officer for booths having 1200 plus voters and 1400 plus voters the length of the queue is to be shortened.
A serpentine queue of voters is to be made a simple plain line at heavy elector booths like 1200 plus voters and 1400 plus voters with the addition of 1 poll officer who will be called P4.
Deputy Election Officer Kanu Ram Naag noted that Palamu has 10 urban booths with over 1,400 voters and 159 rural booths with over 1,200 voters.
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Booth relocation and security measures
Shashi Ranjan hinted at a tactful approach to relocating booths for the Vidhan Sabha election, prioritizing security for voters, polling parties, sector magistrates, and security teams.
While 10 booths were relocated during the Palamu Lok Sabha election and 9 during the Chatra Lok Sabha election, there may be fewer relocations this time, but security will remain a top priority.
EVM preparations and mock polls
Regarding the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the DC informed that the first level check (FLC) of the EVMs is imminent, and five observers will be present for the Vidhan Sabha election.
A mock poll with a minimum of 50 votes, observed by the candidates or their authorized agents, will begin at 5:30 AM on the day of voting, as per ECI guidelines.
Shashi Ranjan reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring a fair and free Vidhan Sabha election, building on the success of the recent Lok Sabha polls.
