The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has issued stringent directives to ensure the accuracy of voter lists and prevent duplicate voting in the upcoming elections for various Municipal Corporations across the state. The commission has mandated a meticulous verification process to identify and manage potential duplicate entries in the electoral rolls.
Verification Drive and Deadline Mandate
In a video conference with Municipal Commissioners, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare instructed officials to complete the verification and disposal of all objections and suggestions related to the draft voters' lists in a timely manner. He emphasized that errors in the ward-wise preparation of rolls should be corrected proactively, without waiting for formal complaints.
The deadline for filing objections and suggestions was December 3. Waghmare directed that decisions on all received inputs must be made promptly, as the final voters' lists are scheduled for publication on December 10. All necessary actions are required to be completed well before this publication date.
Detailed Protocol for Duplicate Voter Management
The SEC has laid down a clear protocol for handling individuals whose names appear more than once in the rolls. All municipal corporations are required to publish the list of potential duplicate voters on their notice boards and official websites, adhering to an SEC order dated October 29, 2025.
The key measures announced include:
- Marking a potential duplicate voter's name in the roll with two stars (**).
- Asking voters with dual listings to declare the specific polling station where they intend to vote.
- Requiring such voters to submit a formal declaration in a prescribed format for their chosen polling station.
- Restricting the voter to cast their ballot only at the specified polling centre.
The commission has also outlined a procedure for potential duplicate voters who do not respond to the initial appeal but show up at a polling station on election day. In such cases, the individual will be required to furnish an indemnity bond (guarantee) in the prescribed format, affirming that they will not vote at any other location. Only after executing this undertaking and undergoing strict identity verification will the voter be permitted to cast their vote.
Basis of the Electoral Roll
SEC secretary Suresh Kakani clarified the foundation of the voter list for local body elections. He stated that, as per the provisions of the local self-government acts, the Assembly constituency electoral roll prepared by the Election Commission of India (ECI) is used as is for all local body elections.
"For Municipal Corporation elections, this master list is merely segmented and divided into ward-wise lists. The names and addresses of voters remain the same as in the original Assembly list," Kakani explained. The SEC has notified July 1, 2025, as the reference date, meaning the Assembly electoral rolls existing on that date form the basis for the current municipal election process.
The SEC's directives underscore its commitment to conducting free and fair elections by ensuring the integrity of the voter list and preventing any possibility of double voting in the crucial civic polls.
