Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam has sought four changes in the Election Commission’s ECINet software, including greater discretion for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) handling voter-list cases during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
In a September 24 communication to senior Election Commission officials, Chockalingam proposed changes aimed at allowing field-level officers to exercise powers available to them under election rules. The proposals came amid concerns about how software restrictions affect decisions involving voters flagged for “logical discrepancies”.
One key proposal was to introduce an “Exempted from Hearing” option. Under the existing process, voters issued notices over unmapped records or logical discrepancies could be required to appear before an ERO. Chockalingam argued that voters who had already submitted satisfactory documents, as well as elderly, disabled and other vulnerable electors, should be able to avoid unnecessary personal hearings.
He also sought an option allowing voters to submit other relevant documents beyond the prescribed list, noting that some homeless people, members of particularly vulnerable communities and sex workers may not possess the specified documents. Another proposal sought greater authority for EROs to take final decisions after verifying satisfactory documents.
As per the latest news report,The Election Commission subsequently eased the procedure, directing Booth Level Officers to collect documents from voters’ homes and upload them on ECINET. Personal hearings will generally not be required, except in certain cases determined by EROs.
The Commission has also ordered a review of ECINET by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent IIT or IIIT expert.
Maharashtra’s revised SIR schedule now places final publication of the electoral roll on November 16, with claims and objections accepted until October 12.
