Refrain from writing explanatory notes on documents received during hearing sessions: ECI to Bengal EROs
Kolkata, Dec. 28 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued fresh guidance to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in West Bengal, instructing them not to add any explanatory notes to voters’ identity documents during hearing sessions on draft voter‑list disputes.
According to sources from the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, EROs are specifically barred from writing the word “verified” on any paper presented by a voter. The directive extends to “micro‑observers” who are assigned to monitor the hearings; they must ensure that no additional markings, other than the required signatures of the ERO and the voter, appear on the documents. If necessary, signatures can be placed on the back of the papers.
The ECI explained that simply receiving a document at the hearing does not establish its authenticity. Instead, a three‑tier validation process will be followed: first by the ERO who receives it, second by the District Magistrate overseeing the area, and finally by the Commission’s technical team, which will conduct a sophisticated electronic check. The aim is to anchor accountability at every level involved in the process.
Hearing sessions are scheduled in two phases. The first round targets “unmapped” voters—those who have no connections to the 2002 voter list, either through self‑mapping or progeny mapping. The second phase addresses voters flagged with logical inconsistencies, such as unusually young parents or grandparents, or identical parental names. Such anomalies were identified during the progeny‑mapping process.
The finalized voter list will be released on Feb. 14, 2025. The ECI will then issue the polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
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