Maharashtra SIR: BLOs to verify WhatsApp docs

Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer, S Chockalingam, has instructed poll officials to accept voter documents shared via WhatsApp during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The booth-level officers (BLOs) are tasked with verifying these documents by visiting homes if necessary, the official reported on Wednesday. Those notified through the ECINet software can reply by sending the needed papers to their BLOs on WhatsApp, the official added.

The BLOs must conduct household verification, if necessary, for the documents received via WhatsApp. This decision comes as the Election Commission is conducting SIR in Maharashtra, with the application and objection deadline extended from September 30 to October 12. The final deadline for withdrawing notices, claims, and objections remains until November 10, and the last electoral roll will be made available on November 16.

The move aims to streamline the revision process and accommodate technological advancements, such as using WhatsApp for document submission. However, the Congress party has criticized the ECINet system, stating it undermines the authority of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in determining voter eligibility. Additionally, opposition parties have raised concerns about the Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi questioning or commenting on at least 14 instances during the revision exercise over the past 10 months. Some of these objections were due to insufficient notification of certain decisions.

Despite these criticisms, the Election Commission has denied allegations of unilateral decision-making in favor of the ruling party, asserting that all decisions, including the SIR of electoral rolls, were made unanimously.