New Delhi, May 1: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has unveiled three new initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls and enhancing services for voters, according to an official press release issued on Thursday.
Electronic Access to Death Registration Data
In the first initiative, the ECI will begin electronically receiving death registration data from the Registrar General of India. This move aligns with Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, amended in 2023. The initiative aims to streamline the removal of deceased individuals from electoral rolls. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will receive timely data, while Booth Level Officers (BLOs) can verify the information during their field visits without needing a formal application under Form 7.
Standard Photo ID Cards for BLOs
The second initiative involves issuing standardized photo identity cards to all BLOs, appointed under Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This measure is expected to help citizens easily identify BLOs during voter registration and verification exercises, enhancing transparency and accountability in the field.
Redesigned Voter Information Slips (VIS)
The third measure includes a redesigned Voter Information Slip to make it more user-friendly. The serial number and part number will now be printed in a larger font size to facilitate easy location of polling stations and voter names on the electoral roll.
These initiatives were deliberated during the March 2025 Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The ECI stated that the measures reflect its commitment to improving electoral management and fostering better interaction between voters and election officials.