Missing names, correction of voters’ rolls in a week

Chennai, Dec 4: In a bid to identify the missing names and authenticity of entries in electoral rolls, the state

Election Commission (EC) is adopting a proactive approach through which complete field verification of the rolls will be carried out. The verification process will begin in a week's time and will be completed within two months, according to chief electoral officer (CEO) Naresh Gupta.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mr Gupta said a checklist will be generated from the electoral rolls database in the DEO's offices and the corrections will be noted by booth-level officers (BLOs) during field verification.

“The BLOs will visit door-to-door and do absolute verification of the missing names and correction of entries. The voters will be given the respective forms for correction of spellings, missing entries, inclusion and transposition of names in case of shifting,” he said.

The signature of the applicants will be obtained in the forms with necessary documentary evidence.

“A sticker will be affixed on the door of every house after the BLO completes the verification,” he added.

The names of BLOs and their telephone numbers will be posted in the CEO's official website -www.ceotamilnadu.nic.in and www.elections.tn.gov.in- for voters to get in touch with the EC for further corrections.

Mr Gupta said the verification process will be completed mid-January and final rolls released two months after that.

Following allegations of distribution of money in the previous by-election,
Mr Gupta said the EC has directed the collectors to closely monitor SHGs and NREGAs which, according to him, are the likely conduits for distribution of money during the December 19 by-election to Tiruchendur and Vandavasi (R) constituencies.

“We have issued instructions to the district collectors that no money distribution in the form of aarathis, tokens for briyani, NREGAs and SHGs should be disbursed through NREGAs and SHGs,” he added.