Concerns raised over continuing gaps in SIR process

Representatives of political parties have demanded an extension of the deadline for resolving concerns aired by the public as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Ernakulam.

They highlighted the continuing gaps in the SIR process at a meeting chaired by District Collector G. Priyanka (who is also the District Election Officer) in the presence of Electoral Roll Observer Tinku Biswal here on Monday.

MLAs T.J. Vinod, Anoop Jacob, Uma Thomas, and Anwar Sadath were among those who spoke. Concerns were raised regarding various issues, including hearing of those excluded from the SIR draft list, change of polling booths, and enrolment of new voters.

On the enrolment of new voters as per Form 6, Mr. Vinod said the online process was cumbersome and time-consuming. The process could be made easier if booth-level officers (BLOs) accepted the application offline, he said.

In a statement, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Hibi Eden, MP, said the revision of the voters’ list under the SIR was a matter of serious concern. He noted that there had been several lapses on the part of the Election Commission regarding the SIR.

There are many objections to the currently published absent, shifted, and deceased (ASD) voters list, he said, adding that he had written to the Chief Election Commissioner with a request to resolve the issues with utmost urgency.

“It has been observed that BLOs have not actively participated in the process in many places. There are 2,06,061 people in the district in the no-mapping category. This is a large number. The current stance taken by the Commission is to sabotage the election process,” alleged Mr. Eden.