A significant clean-up operation by the Thane election department has identified a substantial number of duplicate entries in the city's electoral rolls. Officials revealed on Sunday that a detailed scrutiny led to 16,574 voters being marked as 'duplicate' after their names and photographs appeared more than once in the voter lists.
Massive Scrutiny Uncovers Discrepancies
The administration initiated a comprehensive review targeting a massive pool of 83,645 potential duplicate voters. The meticulous examination, however, brought nuanced results. In the majority of these cases—67,071 to be precise—the names and photographs of the suspected duplicates did not match. Consequently, these entries were cleared and cannot be classified as duplicates.
Procedure for Marked Voters and Official Statement
Deputy Commissioner Umesh Birari clarified the next steps and the status of the confirmed duplicate entries. "Following the review, the double asterisk mark against 16,574 duplicate voters will be retained in the electoral rolls, while those in front of the others will be removed," Birari stated.
He further explained the voting protocol for those marked as duplicates. "Those voters who have been marked as duplicate will be allowed to cast their vote, but only after submitting an undertaking in the prescribed format declaring that they are voting only once for the current elections," the deputy commissioner added. This measure ensures electoral integrity while safeguarding voting rights.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
This drive underscores the election department's commitment to maintaining a clean and accurate voter database. The removal of double asterisks from over 67,000 entries prevents unnecessary confusion for those voters. Simultaneously, flagging the confirmed 16,574 duplicates adds a layer of verification to prevent any potential misuse. The exercise is a critical step in bolstering the credibility of the electoral process in the Thane region.
