The Election Commission of India held meeting of the State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) today to review the status of revision of electoral rolls with 1st January, 2008 as the qualifying date and deciding a time frame for publication of photo electoral rolls for all the States/.UTs.
During the meeting, the Commission apprised the CEO’s an analytical framework for testing the veracity of the Electoral Rolls depending on certain broad parameters like elector-population ratio, gender ratio etc and prescribed specific format for such analysis. The CEOs have been directed to complete such analysis and submission of reports by 29th February. In addition, the Commission also decided to put in place a verification mechanism by appointing Roll Observers in each State/UT to ensure integrity of the Rolls.
While reviewing the implementation of Photo Electoral Rolls, the Commission has fixed the timeframe for implementation of Photo Electoral Rolls in all the States giving the calendar for various stages. A timeframe for final publication of photo electoral rolls was set at 31st August, 2008 for all States/UTs.
The final publication of the Electoral Rolls with qualifying date as 1/1/2008 has been done in 20 States. The remaining few States, including Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, that have just had General Elections, are in a process of finalising the revision formalities. It is expected that by the end of the first fortnight of March, 2008, the revision process would be complete in the entire country.
During deliberations, the Commission laid emphasis on polling station rationalisation to be looked from the viewpoint of voter convenience and laid down fresh guidelines for creation of new polling stations and decongestion of existing polling stations.
During the meeting, the preparatory activities for conversion of existing constituencies into the proposed delimited constituencies and the state of preparedness in this regard was also discussed. The CEOs were briefed about the procedure to be followed and the precautions to be taken for accurate mapping and conversion of the existing constituencies. The CEOs have been directed to undertake one case study and incorporate the lessons emerging from that before universalising the process of delimitation in the whole State/UT. The Commission has fixed 29th February, 2008 as the last date for the completion of the pilot process for all States/UTs.
The Commission also reviewed the progress made in a pilot project undertaken by the CEO, Karnataka for comprehensive computerised management of Electoral Rolls. The software developed for the purpose was reviewed and it was decided that this would be adopted for the entire country in due course after incorporating changes warranted during the pilot.
RM/AS-070208
(Release ID :35234)