Pune: Activists demanded an extension of the SIR schedule in Maharashtra after the Election Commission of India ordered a fresh exercise to trace 2.07 crore voters marked absent, shifted, dead or duplicate (ASDD) during the exercise.
At present, people can submit Forms 6, 7 and 8 for inclusion of names, corrections or objections to the draft voters’ list till Nov 13. Under the revised SIR schedule, the last date for disposal of claims and objections is Nov 25. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on Nov 30. They said the Nov 13 deadline should be extended to allow voters identified through the fresh exercise to submit the necessary forms.
Booth-level officers (BLOs) have been asked to contact these voters and facilitate submission of the required forms to electoral registration officers (EROs) or assistant EROs concerned so that genuine electors get another opportunity to be included in the final roll.
Activists said poll officials would have to locate excluded voters, inform them about their omission and facilitate the filing of forms. So, we want an extension of the claims and objections deadline,” said activist Ulka Mahajan. We will be happier if they roll back SIR,” Mahajan said. A senior election official told TOI that the timeline for the exercise would be decided separately. Activists said the commission’s instructions would have little practical value unless enough time was provided to complete the process.
“Completing these steps within the remaining few days will be difficult, particularly for the electors who are unaware that their names have been left out. “Nothing will emerge from this new exercise unless the deadline is extended. Officials will not be able to trace such a large number of left out voters. The ECI order does not specify a fresh timeline for officials to complete the exercise or for the identified voters to approach the authorities.
Election Commission of India (ECI) directed poll officials on Friday to display booth-wise ASDD lists afresh and make efforts to trace those excluded from the draft roll.