Major political parties in Kerala have jointly voiced their apprehension that the upcoming hearings for the draft voters' list could cause significant inconvenience to the public. The parties have urged the state's election machinery to ensure that the process of establishing voting rights does not become a struggle for ordinary citizens.
Unified Stand at Chief Electoral Officer's Meeting
Representatives from a broad spectrum of parties, including the CPM, CPI, Congress, BJP, Kerala Congress, and the IUML, participated in a crucial meeting convened by the Chief Electoral Officer on Saturday. This gathering was part of the ongoing discussions regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. The core concern raised unanimously was that the sanctity of voting as a fundamental right must be upheld by making the process citizen-friendly.
The Scale of the Challenge and Key Demands
The parties highlighted a staggering figure: more than 19 lakh individuals might need to submit lineage and other supporting documents at these hearings to prove their eligibility. This group includes people whose names were absent from the 2002 voters' list, as well as those who turned 18 in either 2002 or 2024.
CPM leader M Vijayakumar articulated the collective anxiety, stating, "All of us are concerned because a lot of people can be removed from the list because of the formalities." He argued that the hearing stage itself should be reconsidered, as submitting documents should be sufficient. "If documents are submitted why should there be a hearing," he questioned, warning that unnecessary hearings could lead to more names being erroneously deleted.
In a significant development, the request from political parties to have booth level agents present at both the assembly and district levels during the process was approved in the meeting. Furthermore, the parties suggested that the election office should explore online submission of documents, requiring in-person appearance only when absolutely necessary.
Election Commission's Stance and Next Steps
In response, the electoral officer clarified the procedure. Officials stated that notices for personal appearance at hearings will be issued by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) only if deemed essential. If the documents submitted by an individual are found to be satisfactory, the ERO may not call them for a hearing at all, an official explained.
These consultations with political parties are a standard part of the SIR exercise. Citizens who find their names missing from the draft list can apply for inclusion before the middle of next month. The dialogue underscores the critical balance between ensuring a clean electoral roll and protecting every eligible citizen's right to vote without undue hardship.
