Hyderabad: Assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) and booth‑level officials in most booths have failed to provide acknowledgements to voters after hearings and submission of documents to retain their names as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. This has added to anxiety among voters over whether their efforts are fruitful in the crucial period of registering claims and objections.
On August 28, Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharsan Reddy issued a memo directing poll officials to provide acknowledgements to those appearing before EROs or AEROs. However, voters complained that in most booths the practice is not being followed. “During my visit to the local booth, I found they were uploading documents and clicking photos of individuals after the hearing, but no acknowledgement was given. Either this was not communicated properly by higher officials or the officials don’t want the responsibility. Neither the BLO nor the AERO present had any idea about the acknowledgement,” said Md Husamuddin Mateen, a resident of Riyasathnagar in Chandrayangutta constituency.
In Jubilee Hills constituency, T. Praveen Kumar of Filmnagar said he submitted documents after being informed by a BLO. “I had hoped they would provide acknowledgement, but since they said it was not required, I returned. Now I realise not seeking it was my mistake, as it would be the only proof,” he said.
Volunteers assisting voters in the SIR process said the issue was widespread across constituencies. BLOs and AEROs were more interested in accepting documents and moving on. “It is not that they are not recording details, but they are registering names in a register without providing acknowledgement. BLOs are least bothered. Since their responsibility was almost completed by handing over notices, they just want to finish by accepting documents. The burden now rests with the voter,” explained High Court advocate Mohammed Waseem.
With voters having no access to uploaded details, concerns remain about the status of their franchise. “When asked how to know the status, officials clearly said it could only be known when the final voter list is published on November 9,” Husamuddin added.
The CEO, who has been reviewing SIR progress in recent meetings, failed to discuss the issue with officials. On Monday, Sudharsan Reddy instructed officials to address anomalies and no‑mapping categories while appreciating progress. “BLO supervisors, BLOs and AEROs were instructed to adhere to daily targets and complete assigned work within the timeline. Pendency relating to Forms 6, 7 and 8 and enquiry/hearing cases should be disposed of promptly, while providing adequate time to electors to submit supporting documents. BLO supervisors and BLOs should know the indicative list of documents so that required information can be explained to electors,” officials said.
As per latest data, over 80 lakh notices were served from among 93 lakh voters flagged in earlier SIR phases. Nearly 60 lakh have completed hearings and been ‘parked’ as voters to be published in the final list. About 3,000 votes were deleted after hearings in the present phase of claims and objections.
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