General Principles of Voter Registration Administrative Machinery of

General Principles of Voter Registration

Administrative Machinery of Electoral System Election Commission of India (ECI) Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) District Election Officer (DEO) Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Supervisor Booth Level Officer (BLO)

Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies 3 Country One Country Parliamentary Constituencies Many Assembly Constituencies > PCs Parts of the AC >ACs Sections of the Parts >Parts

What is an Electoral Roll? ? • As per Sec. 15 of RP Act, 1950, for every constituency there shall be an electoral roll which shall be prepared under the superintendence, direction and control of the Commission. 4

What is the importance of Voter Registration? ? • For a free and fair election, quality of elector registration process and electoral rolls is the most important pre-requisite. • Electoral malpractices like bogus voting and impersonation, in a large part, result from defective system of voter registration. 5

What is the importance of Voter Registration? ? • The officials responsible for voter registration are required to be thorough in all relevant rules and laws. • Any erroneous application of law will violate the accuracy of rolls and will affect the purity of election. 6

Registration Process in India • The Constitution of India has entrusted the voter registration and preparation of electoral rolls (voters lists) to an independent authority, i. e. the Election Commission of India. • The superintendence, direction and control of whole process of voter registration in Election Commission of India [Article 324 (1)] 7

Registration process In India • The basic law governing voter registration in India is the Representation of People Act, 1950 passed by the Indian Parliament and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 ; made thereunder. • The preparation and revision of Electoral Roll is carried out under this framework of law 8

Registration process In India • Registration process in India is a continuous process. • The electoral rolls are revised annually with reference to 1 st January of the year as qualifying date. • Publication of draft of electoral roll for information of general public and inviting claims and objections. 9

• Basically revision of electoral rolls in India are of two types- intensive and summary. • The basic unit of revision process is part or polling station which has ordinarily 2000 persons. • Part No. of electoral rolls and Sl. No. of polling station is to be same. 10

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Electoral Rolls for Assembly and Parliamentary Constituency • Electoral Rolls are prepared for Assembly Constituency (AC) under the provisions of RP Act 1950 • No separate Electoral Roll for Parliamentary Constituency (PC) is maintained as that PC consists of Electoral Rolls for all its ACs • • Electoral Rolls are organized as geographically defined Parts which are further organized into Sections and households PC AC AC Parts Sections Each Part has an identified Polling Station where Locality electors cast their votes on the poll day Area Households 12

Conditions of Registration Every person can be registered in an Electoral Roll of the Constituency who is a citizen of India not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date is ordinarily resident in a Constituency Who is ‘Ordinarily Resident’ ? No definition is given under Section 20 of RPA, 1950, however a person is ordinarily resident if: s/he uses that place for sleeping her/his temporary absence from that place due to employment or pleasure does not disqualify from being considered s/he possesses the ability and intention to return to that place

Disqualification for Registration in an Electoral Roll • Under Section 16 of RPA 1950, a person is disqualified for registration if: – Not a citizen of India l. R ra o ct e El l ol – Of unsound mind declared by competent court – Temporarily disqualified from voting under any law relating to corrupt practices and other Election offence (Section 11 A of RPA, 1951)

– A person is disqualified for voting at any election if: Convicted an offence punishable under Section 171 E or 171 F of IPC or Section 135/136(2) (a) of RPA, 1951 for 6 years • Disqualified by a decision of the President under Section 8(A) of RPA, 1951 for the period specified by the President. • If a person is disqualified after registration then his name is deleted from the Electoral Roll • Person can only be registered once in an Electoral Roll of only one Constituency under Section 17 & 18 of RPA, 1950

Exceptions to General Principles of Ordinary Residence • • Service voters i. e. members of armed forces can be registered at their native place. Native place could be same or different from place of posting Persons holding declared offices i. e. President, Ministers etc. can be registered in the Constituency where they would be ordinarily resident were they not holding the said office, if they have given statement in Form 1 of RER, 1960

Exceptions to General Principles of Ordinary Residence • Members of Parliament and State Legislatures can be registered in their home Constituencies even if that is not their normal place of residence • Inmates of jails and other legal custody, hospitals, beggar homes etc. are not included in the Electoral Roll of that Constituency • Eligible students living in hostel or mess can either be registered as ordinarily resident in the place where hostel or mess is located or at their residence with their parents.

Forms of Claims and Objections during Revision • For an accurate and error-free Electoral Roll, different types of claims and objections such as addition/deletion/ transposition/ correction, are cleared by ERO/DO/BLO • Forms of Claims, Objections and Corrections • The applicants applying for addition / deletion / correction / transposition should fill the following Forms • Form 6 – Inclusion of name (Service personnel to attach “Form of declaration”) • Form 6 A – Inclusion of name of overseas electors • Form 7 – Objection/seeking deletion of name • Form 8 – Correction to a particular entry • Form 8 A – Transfer of name from one Part to another Part in same AC 18

Important Documents Needed forms • Age Proof (Either of the documents can be given) a) b) c) d) e) f) 19 Birth certificate issued by a Municipal Authorities or district office of the Registrar of Births & Deaths or Baptism certificate; or Birth certificate from the school (Govt. / Recognised) last attended by the applicant or any other recognised educational institution; or If a person is class 10 or more pass, he should give a copy of the marksheet of class 10 , if it contains date of birth as a proof of date of birth; or Marksheet of class 8 if it contains date of birth; or Marksheet of class 5 if it contains date of birth; or A declaration in prescribed format given in Annexure-1 made by either of his parents if the person is not educated till class 10 (In those cases where parental declaration is given as proof of age, the applicant will have to be present himself for verification before BLO/ERO/AERO); or

• Proof of Ordinary Residence (Either of the documents can be given) • • Bank / Kisan / Post Office current Pass Book, or • Latest Water / Telephone / Electricity / Gas Connection Bill for that address, either in the name of the applicant or that of his / her immediate relation like parents etc. , or • Postal department’s posts received / delivered in the applicant’s name at the given address. 20 Applicant’s Ration Card / Passport / Driving License / Income Tax Return filed or Assessment Order, or

• Age • “Age proof” like birth certificate, certificate from school • Parental Linkage in Electoral Roll (for citizenship issue) /citizenship proof • “Citizenship proof” like copy of EPIC of parents • “Proof of Ordinary Residence” like rationcard, passport etc Married women • “Age proof” Students New Voter Inclusion (Form 6) Shifted from other AC Voters above 25 yrs • “Nationality proof” • Proof of Ordinary Residence before marriage • Marriage Registration Certificate • “proof of Ordinary Residence 21 • Ordinary residence • Declaration as to delayed registration (age>25 yrs) (Part 4 of form 6) • Special care to verify citizenship status • Ordinary residence • Address of previous residence • Ac No. & if possible Part/Sl. No. of previous enrollment • EPIC or other citizenship evidence • Ordinary residence

Part & Sl. No. of previous enrollment Transposition (Form 8 A) EPIC Ordinary residence Correction (Form 8) Part & Sl. No. of enrollment Evidence in favour of correction sought for 22

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Photo Electoral Roll 25

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State Scenario

• As per finally published roll the total electorate is 6676407 • Essentially means that 505020 are yet to be enrolled

• • The persons falling in the age group of 18/19 years constitute the biggest block of eligible persons who are yet to be enrolled as elector. • As against 4, 74, 369 persons (3. 70%) only 118, 562 (0. 92) persons have been enrolled in the electoral rolls. Therefore the enrollment of the persons falling in the age group of 18/19 is the biggest target group plan.

• Out of the total persons to be enrolled 355807 are in the age group of 18/19 years.

Booth Level Agents (BLAs) BLAs are representatives appointed by the political parties under the direction of Election Commission, to help BLOs in Electoral Roll Management Election Commission Informs Political Party Appoints Booth Level Agents Duties - Assists people in filing claim/objection properly - Remains present during the campaigns and help BLOs - Verifies and conducts survey of the dead and shifted electors - Understands and scrutinizes the electoral roll and points out corrections, if any, during meeting with BLO - Helps BLO in continuous updating of the electoral roll 32

National Voters Day What is National Voters Day? Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on 25 th January, 1950 National Voters Day is celebrated on the founding day of ECI i. e. 25 th January every year It was celebrated for the first time in January 2011, called “Rashtriya Matdata Divas” in Hindi 33

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Quiz Time • Who is the Chief Election commissioner of India? • Who are the two Election Commissioners of India? • Who is the Deputy Election Commissioner in-charge of your state? • Who is the Chief Electoral Officer of your state? • Who is the District Election Officer of your district? • Who is the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the Assembly • Constituency of the Part in which you are appointed as Designated officer. • Who is the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) of the Assembly Constituency of the Part in which you are appointed. 35

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