In a dedicated push to ensure electoral inclusivity, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across Kolkata undertook a final round of field visits on Sunday, specifically targeting voters aged 85 years and above. This initiative was a direct follow-up to recent directives issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Final Verification for Home Voting Facility
The activity marked the concluding phase of the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the electoral roll. The primary objectives were twofold: to assess the physical well-being of these senior citizens and to confirm whether they wished to opt for the facility of casting their vote from home in upcoming elections. BLOs utilized the last Sunday before the entire verification process was set to conclude on the following Thursday.
TOI accompanied several officers in north Kolkata to observe the process firsthand. Surojit Nandy, a BLO in the Rabindra Sarani area, visited the home of 85-year-old Tarulata Das on Hari Bose Lane. He carefully inquired if she had submitted the necessary forms and faced any difficulties in the process.
Ensuring Accuracy in Electoral Records
Ashis Pan, another BLO from the same area, visited two elderly individuals: 87-year-old Belarani Dey and 95-year-old Arun Das. He provided context, stating, "In my area, I distributed 1,046 enumeration forms, six of which were for individuals over 85. Following ECI guidelines, I visited their residences again on Sunday for a final verification." After each visit, he updated the findings directly into the official BLO application.
A supervisor in north Kolkata explained the critical need for this final check. "The entire SSR process takes about a month to complete. In that period, elderly voters over 85 may pass away after filling their forms. If families are not proactive in informing us, these forms could be mistakenly uploaded as if the person were still alive," he noted. He added that errors in form-filling are also possible, making this final round essential for correcting mistakes and ensuring maximum accuracy in the voter list.
Systematic Outreach Across the City
The pattern was repeated in other parts of the city. Sunanda Haldar, a BLO in the Jodhpur Park area, reported, "There are 653 voters in my section, with a few over the age of 85. According to ECI instructions, I have already begun revisiting their residences and verifying their documents."
BLOs strategically chose Sunday for these final visits to increase the likelihood of finding family members at home. This support system was crucial for clarifying details, making corrections, or formally updating records in case of a voter's demise, thereby preventing future confusion. This meticulous door-to-door exercise underscores the Election Commission's commitment to making the electoral process more accessible and error-free for India's oldest citizens.
