SYMPOSIUM ONSYMPOSIUM ON“SHARING BEST ELECTORAL “SHARING BEST ELECTORAL

PRACTICES” AT PRACTICES” AT BHUBANESWAR (ODISHA) ON BHUBANESWAR (ODISHA) ON

10/01/201110/01/2011

SYMPOSIUM ONSYMPOSIUM ON“SHARING BEST ELECTORAL “SHARING BEST ELECTORAL

PRACTICES” AT PRACTICES” AT BHUBANESWAR (ODISHA) ON BHUBANESWAR (ODISHA) ON

10/01/201110/01/2011Presentation On “Management Of Electoral

Roll And Challenges Involving It”

By Md. Ghulam Ali Ansari, IAS

District Magistrate, Bankura, West Bengal

2

•Electoral Roll is the reflection of Indian citizen Electoral Roll is the reflection of Indian citizen having their basic democratic right provided by the having their basic democratic right provided by the Constitution of India.Constitution of India.

•For free and fair election and thereby for better For free and fair election and thereby for better democracy of our country, an accurate and error free democracy of our country, an accurate and error free ER is the most important pre-requisite.ER is the most important pre-requisite.

IntroductionIntroduction

3

3 most significant changes taken place over the recent past

in respect of ER

Computerized Data Base

Linking the Rolls with Photo Identity

CardsConcept of Photo

ER

4

Management Of Management Of Electoral RollElectoral Roll

55

Growing emphasis on periodic Health Growing emphasis on periodic Health

Check up of ERCheck up of ER

Recently paradigm shift has been taken place in terms Recently paradigm shift has been taken place in terms of Health Check up of ER periodically by analysing ER of Health Check up of ER periodically by analysing ER from different dimensions ( Format 1 to 8 ) and take from different dimensions ( Format 1 to 8 ) and take necessary corrective measures to make the ER more necessary corrective measures to make the ER more meaningful and more reflective and representative of meaningful and more reflective and representative of different strata of electors.different strata of electors.

Format 1 to 8 has made it possible to make Format 1 to 8 has made it possible to make comparative study of ER in terms of electors-comparative study of ER in terms of electors-Population Ratio, Gender Ratio, Registered Voters-Population Ratio, Gender Ratio, Registered Voters-Eligible Voters ratio, Age Cohort, Non-EPIC coverage, Eligible Voters ratio, Age Cohort, Non-EPIC coverage, EPIC coverage, change over previous roll, etc.EPIC coverage, change over previous roll, etc.

6

Management Of Electoral RollManagement Of Electoral Roll – Continued.

• Through comparative study it is possible to make the ER more healthy by taking remedial steps to increase no. of registration of eligible voters, to mobilize female for registration, to mobilize particular eligible age group, till not registered for registration, to mobilize electors for 100% EPIC coverage.

• The study has also enable to assess whether ER correspond to the change in population and if no, remedial measure to be taken up to make ER more representative of people.

7

• Disposal of Form-6 by AERO / Adl. AERO should be of best quality, otherwise there will be very chance of registration of ineligible voters, deprivation of eligible voters and duplication of voters.

• Each and every disposal should be done with reasoned order in quasi-judicial manner.

• Before disposal ERO / Adl. AERO should verify whether form has been filled up properly and completely ( especially, part–IV of form-6 ).

Focus of Quality Disposal of Form-6

8

Need for Quality Training of DOs Need for Quality Training of DOs

& BLOs& BLOs • DOs and BLOs are two important DOs and BLOs are two important

machineries ( functioning at grass root machineries ( functioning at grass root level and closest to the voters ) for level and closest to the voters ) for cleansing of ER.cleansing of ER.

• DO should check properly whether the DO should check properly whether the forms are filled up properly and completely forms are filled up properly and completely and supported by required documents in and supported by required documents in time of receiving forms. time of receiving forms.

• BLOs are to function round the year on BLOs are to function round the year on different aspect for preparation of clean different aspect for preparation of clean ER.ER.

9

Need for Quality Training of DOs & BLOs - Continued

• BLOs’ duties include creating awareness among voters regarding revision programme, EPIC programme, requisite documents to be submitted with different forms, distribution and collection of different forms, collection of information of dead, shifted and duplicate voters for suo-motu deletion u/s 21A of Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 after following due procedure and enquiry of different applications before disposal, etc.

• Convergence of functions of DO and BLO is necessary.

• Therefore quality training of DOs and BLOs is needed.

10

Need for Instant Disposal of ComplaintNeed for Instant Disposal of Complaint

• Complaints received from different ends should be disposed off promptly after due enquiry.

• Intimation should be given to the complainant.

• Necessary changes have to be incorporated in the ER after following due procedure.

Management Of Management Of Electoral RollElectoral Roll

– – Bankura ExperienceBankura Experience

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Brief Profile of Bankura Brief Profile of Bankura DistrictDistrict

• Total Population as per census, 2001Total Population as per census, 2001 : : 3192695.3192695.

• Total Population, 2011 ( Projected )Total Population, 2011 ( Projected ) : : 3558252.3558252.

• Total electors as per final Roll w.r.t 01.01.2011 as Total electors as per final Roll w.r.t 01.01.2011 as qualifying date , published on 05.01.2011qualifying date , published on 05.01.2011 : : 2284602.2284602.

• Sex Ratio as per final Roll w.r.t 01.01.2011 as Sex Ratio as per final Roll w.r.t 01.01.2011 as qualifying date , published on 05.01.2011qualifying date , published on 05.01.2011 : : 921.921.

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Brief Profile of Bankura Brief Profile of Bankura District – Contd.District – Contd.

• Total no. of Sub-Division : Total no. of Sub-Division : 3.3.

• Total no. of Block : Total no. of Block : 22.22.

• Total no. AC : Total no. AC : 12.12.

• Total no. PS : Total no. PS : 2385.2385.

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Population & Electors as per Final Roll as Population & Electors as per Final Roll as on 01.01.2011on 01.01.2011

35.58252

22.84602

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

( P

opul

atio

n In

lakh

)

Population Electors

15

Male & Female Electors ( % ) as per Final Male & Female Electors ( % ) as per Final Roll Roll

as on 01.01.2011as on 01.01.2011

52

48

Male Electors Female Electors

1616

Sex Ratio – Comparative StudySex Ratio – Comparative Study

919

921

918

918.5

919

919.5

920

920.5

921

921.5

SRER, Draft, 2010SRER, Final, 2011

Steps taken :Steps taken :Special drive was given Special drive was given during last two SRER, during last two SRER, 2010 & 2011 back to 2010 & 2011 back to back for enrolment of back for enrolment of eligible left out female eligible left out female voters ( especially, voters ( especially, married women ) through married women ) through

1.1. meeting with all political meeting with all political parties, parties,

2.2. door to door campaigning door to door campaigning by BLOs and SHGs at by BLOs and SHGs at grass root level.grass root level.

1717

Electors to Population Ratio – Comparative StudyElectors to Population Ratio – Comparative Study

Steps taken :Steps taken :

Special drive was given Special drive was given during last two SRER, during last two SRER, 2010 & 2011 back to back 2010 & 2011 back to back for enrolment of eligible for enrolment of eligible left out votersleft out voters

1.1. through meeting with all through meeting with all political parties, political parties,

2.2. door to door campaigning door to door campaigning by BLOs at grass root by BLOs at grass root levellevel

0.6

0.64

0.58

0.59

0.6

0.61

0.62

0.63

0.64

0.65

SRER, Draft, 2010SRER, Final, 2011

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18-19 Yrs. Voters to Population Ratio–18-19 Yrs. Voters to Population Ratio–Comparative StudyComparative Study

• Steps taken :Steps taken :Special drive was given Special drive was given during last two SRER, during last two SRER, 2010 & 2011 back to back 2010 & 2011 back to back for enrolment of newly for enrolment of newly eligible voters througheligible voters through

1.1. meeting with all political meeting with all political parties, youth parties, youth organizations, students organizations, students unions and subsequently unions and subsequently mobilization by them, mobilization by them,

2.2. door to door campaigning door to door campaigning by BLOs at grass root by BLOs at grass root level andlevel and

3.3. provisioning drop boxes provisioning drop boxes for submission of form-6 for submission of form-6 at different collegesat different colleges

1.04

1.37

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

SRER, Draft, 2010SRER, Final, 2011

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EPIC Coverage ( % ) EPIC Coverage ( % ) As Per Final ER, 2011As Per Final ER, 2011

96.73

3.27

EPIC Electors Non-EPIC Electors

• Fresh voters and left out Fresh voters and left out voters have been voters have been targeted under EPIC targeted under EPIC Programme from 6Programme from 6thth Jan. Jan. to 12to 12thth Jan, 2011 and the Jan, 2011 and the coverage is expected to coverage is expected to increase significantly increase significantly after the EPIC after the EPIC Programme is over.Programme is over.

• Efforts has been taken to Efforts has been taken to raise the level to 100% raise the level to 100% by covering left out by covering left out electors through door to electors through door to door photography door photography programme.programme.

2020

Bankura Experience – Contd.Bankura Experience – Contd.

DOs and BLOs were trained extensively DOs and BLOs were trained extensively by the EROs and AEROs to ensure by the EROs and AEROs to ensure quality work.quality work.

One Booth – One BLO formula has been One Booth – One BLO formula has been implemented strictly.implemented strictly.

Efforts have been taken to ensure 100 Efforts have been taken to ensure 100 % local BLOs.% local BLOs.

2121

Bankura Experience – Contd.Bankura Experience – Contd. To reduce the pressure on hearing, the To reduce the pressure on hearing, the

applicants having linkages established and applicants having linkages established and submitting all requisite documents were not submitting all requisite documents were not called for hearing. For proper disposal, all called for hearing. For proper disposal, all applications ( called for hearing ) were verified applications ( called for hearing ) were verified and enquired into by the BLOs before hearing.and enquired into by the BLOs before hearing.

Hearing, disposal and preparation of Hearing, disposal and preparation of manuscript were done in phased and time manuscript were done in phased and time bound manner to match the time schedule bound manner to match the time schedule provided by the ECI.provided by the ECI.

All the Officers starting from the DM, ADMs, All the Officers starting from the DM, ADMs, SDOs, other EROs, AEROs and Adl. AEROs were SDOs, other EROs, AEROs and Adl. AEROs were on constant visit to the booths to monitor day on constant visit to the booths to monitor day to day affairs of revision work.to day affairs of revision work.

2222

Bankura Experience – Contd.Bankura Experience – Contd.

All the applicants submitting applications All the applicants submitting applications during SRER, 2011, have been intimated during SRER, 2011, have been intimated regarding fate of the disposal by ERO regarding fate of the disposal by ERO along with grounds of rejection so that along with grounds of rejection so that

1.1. any applicant being aggrieved may get any applicant being aggrieved may get the opportunity of making appeal against the opportunity of making appeal against ERO’s order to the Appellate Authority as ERO’s order to the Appellate Authority as per provision of Rule 23 of the RER, 1960 per provision of Rule 23 of the RER, 1960 andand

1.1. he may again submit application during he may again submit application during continuous updation to be started from continuous updation to be started from 55thth Jan., 2011. Jan., 2011.

2323

Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Registration Of Electors Rules, 1960Registration Of Electors Rules, 1960

Cleansing of ER heavily depends on deletion of Cleansing of ER heavily depends on deletion of ineligible voters by ERO u/s 21A of Registration ineligible voters by ERO u/s 21A of Registration Of electors rules, 1960.Of electors rules, 1960.

In Bankura District, a total of In Bankura District, a total of 5489154891 number of number of electors who were dead, shifted and repeated electors who were dead, shifted and repeated was deleted suo-motu leading to total deletion was deleted suo-motu leading to total deletion of of 5577355773 voters including the same through voters including the same through Form-7 during Pre-Revision, SRER, 2010 & Form-7 during Pre-Revision, SRER, 2010 & SRER, 2011 back to back within last six SRER, 2011 back to back within last six months’ period.months’ period.

2424

Total deletions – Category Wise Break Total deletions – Category Wise Break UpUp

39213

15363

1197

Dead Shifted Repeated

2525

Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Registration Of Electors Rules, 1960 – Registration Of Electors Rules, 1960 –

contd.contd.

Sources for Suo-motudeletion

Dead list fromDeath Registrar (GP Prodhan /

Mun. Chairman)

Dead, Shifted, Repeated list

from BLO-BLAmeeting

Dead, Shifted, Repeated list received from

BLO

Duplicate listgenerated by

De-duplication software

Non-EPIC /Non-Image

List

Complaints received from different ends

2626

Hearing notice issued to the voters

Enquiry done by BLO

List displayed in offices of ERO/AERO

inviting objection

Disposal By ERO /

AERO in quasi-judicial manner

Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Registration Of Suo-motu Deletion u/s 21A of Registration Of Electors Rules, 1960 – contd.Electors Rules, 1960 – contd.

2727

Challenges Involving Challenges Involving Management Of Electoral RollManagement Of Electoral Roll

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The time for disposal is shorter. The time for disposal is shorter.

This phase includes

Hearing of applications

Disposal of applications

Preparation of manuscript

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Some ground level problems are :

– Absence of members of a family due to migration for earning resulting non-registration of voters to the full potential and below 100% EPIC coverage.

– Registration of genuine persons due to lack of mandatory documents. For instance, persons above 25 yrs. of age and having no proof of age, persons having no proof of linkage, citizenship or residence, married women having no proof of marriage, especially in rural areas. This creates constant tension among the political parties.

– Deletions of voters due to transfer applying in form-6 - since addresses of all EROs are not known, deletion list sometimes could not be sent to the concerned ERO ( especially in case of other state ) in time.

ChallengesChallenges

– – Bankura ExperienceBankura Experience

3131

Challenges in Bankura District

LWE activities in3 ACs of South

Bankura involving4 Blocks & 418 PSs

Shortage of man power

Non-availability of 100 % local BLO

Absence of large no. of potential electors during

revision period due to migration for earning

3232

Steps taken

Police patrolling so that the DOs can sit in the booths to distribute

and receive forms

BLOs also have gone door to door to distribute and receive forms

Special drive through BLOs has been taken up in inaccessible

remote areas

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Challenges – Contd.

It has been observed that no. of eligible electors remain absent from their villages for a period of time, especially during the revision period due to migration for earning. Some of them come to their village during major occasions like Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Eid. Special care for enrolment of such eligible electors may be taken up by provisioning distribution and receiving form – 6 to and from them during this occasions.

Thank You