Training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) Contents

Booth Level Agents EPIC BLOs role in Gram Sabhas/RWAs meeting BLOs Duties & Roles Forms Photo Electoral Rolls BLO Register BLOs Appointment Training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)Contents

Booth Level Officer (BLO) • BLO is responsible for maintaining the updated electoral roll of the assigned part area under the control and supervision of ERO/AERO. The concept was introduced in 2006. • Under section 13B(2) – R.P. Act,1950 - appointed by ERO with prior approval of DEO concerned. • Under Section 13CC applies to BLOs also so they function under the control & supervision of ECI/CEO. • Punishment for willful default u/s 32 of RP Act 1950. • On the poll day , s/he shall be present at polling booth with voter’s slip and extend all assistances on the day • NOW YOU GET ANSWER THAT BLO IS LIKE BUILDING BRICKS OF THE ROLL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. So crucial so important.

Main Duties and Responsibilities of BLOs Periodical • Updating of the rolls • National Voters Day Activity Dec-Jan • Ensure correct serialization of houses • Prepare sketch map (nazarinaksha) • physical verification of rolls/claim and • objection forms All through the year • Custodian of the electoral roll • Ensure availability of different forms • Maintaining the election related documents Special Direction • Photo coverage in the roll • Obtain geographical information of Part area • Coordination with BLAs • Impart Systematic Voters Education for Electoral Participation (SVEEP) • Distribution of voters slip before polls • Any other work under the instruction of ERO/AERO Revision Period • Structural revision and updating of rolls • Coordination with BLAs • Displaying draft rolls • Reading of rolls in gram sabhas

Qualification and Disqualification for Registration(SECTION 19 OF R.P.ACT, 1950) For Qualification, S/He is not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date. (which is 1st of January of that particular year). S/He is ordinarily resident in a constituency. For disqualification, if s/he Is not a citizen of India Is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court. Is, for time being disqualified from voting (Section 11A of the RP Act, 1951).

FIELD VERFICATION OF FORMS The BLO should: Verify the details given in the forms i.e. applicant’s identity, age & residential status etc. Mention the name and other details of persons who provided information about the applicant during field verification. Also record the evidence/ documents obtained. Append signature and write name in full below verification report.

i • THE PART AREA MAP • Acquire knowledge about the boundary of the polling station area/ part area. • Frequently visit the Revenue village/Colony etc that falls under their part area to gather correct information about new constructions or jhuggis etc. • Ensure the new houses built in their part area are depicted in the Nazari map • CEO/DEO office to go for GIS maps from available sources including internet. ( This is optional) • Develop local contacts in their sections to remain updated about arrival of new persons, shifting of residents, death etc in the locality . The information gathered will be useful for updating the roll.

3 2 1 4 5 6 9 7 8 NUMBERING OF HOUSES FALLING WITHIN POLLING STATION AREA/PART AREA • Acquire knowledge about the number of sections and boundaries of their part area to give correct serial numbers to the houses. If new sections need to be created , please inform the ERO so that he can do the needful. • In case house numbers are not assigned by local authorities, serialization of the houses should be in ascending order beginning from North-West to South-East in zigzag manner. Every household should have a number.

PHYSICAL VERIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL ROLL • As and when directed, using BLO register, a BLO needs to do physical verification of the roll of the part assigned to him by house to house visits. • During the visit, by asking question to family members, BLOs verify the entries, correct the same if incorrect , collect the photo of residual electors/ unclear photos, note down EPIC numbers, if already issued but not reflected in relevant column, note down the names of eligible persons but not included, electors found dead, shifted, duplicate etc , ask if any family member is in foreign country , give blank appropriate forms and assist in filling them etc. 8

Forms Form 6 - Any person who claims to register his name in the electoral roll, should fill up/get filled the form and either sign or give thumb impression on this form. If the person’s name is already existing in roll of any assembly constituency then its details should be provided in part – IV of form-6 Form 6A - Any Indian citizen who is absent from his place of ordinary residence in India due to employment, education or otherwise and has neither included his name in electoral roll nor has acquired citizenship of any other country, can get his name enrolled as overseas electors at the address mentioned in his passport by submitting this form. Form 7 - Every objection to the inclusion of a person’s name in the roll should be given in this form. Objector should provide the justification for filing the objection Form 8 - Every objection to any entry in roll should be given in this by the person to whom the entry relates Form 8A - Every application for transposition of an entry from one part to another part of the roll within the same assembly constituency should be in this form. 9

Procedure of receiving claims and objections Acknowledgment/receipt should be given for each application of claim/ objection received by BLO Any claim/ objection can be given/sent to ERO by post or in person to BLO. Claims/objections given in bulk by person or post not accepted The claims of all members of one family can be received for the registration of names in electoral roll from any one member of the family Inaccurately filled or incomplete application should be got corrected and completed by BLOs before receiving. 10

Procedure of receiving claims and objections • For special campaign days, BLOs (where they are not designated officers) should be present in addition to the designated officers at PSs • Designated Officers/ BLOs will maintain lists (in duplicate) in Forms 9, 10, 11 and 11A for applications received in Form 6,7,8, 8A respectively. • BLOs write their findings with regard to age/ address/ other particulars on the applications received for claims/objections before sending them to AEROs/ EROs. • BLO writes comments on records submitted by the applicants for proof of age. • Hearing on application of claim/objections commences after being exhibited in form ___________ for 7 days - Rule 16(b), RER 1960 • ERO specifies date, time and place of hearing of claim/objection in the list. Form 9,10,11, 11A. 11

Enrolment of persons with Service Qualification (Contd.) ? • Three kinds of forms Form 2, 2A and 3 for three different • categories are filled to become a Service Voter. • Forms are submitted at his designated Record Office or to his superior authority. • It is not mandatory to be registered as service voter for every person who has Service Qualification. • He can enroll himself as ordinary voter • A service voter can either register as service voter or an ordinary voter. Registering at both places is an offence. • BLO’s role comes when - when a service voter decides to register as a general voter - His/ her family members who are not service voters want to register. 12

? What are the Roles of BLO with regard to service voters • Take action for getting the Form 6 filled wherever necessary • Ascertain that person with service qualification have been staying at place of • residence for sufficient span of time to register him as ordinary voter • Facilitate to fill form 6 for the eligible family members of all service voters • eligible to be registered as general electors • Fill form 6 for the husband of a service voter to be registered as ordinary voter • Wife of service voter has a choice to either be registered as service voter or • ordinary voter • BLOs should make necessary visits within their areas for the above purposes. 13

Enrolment of orphans Eligible orphan in orphanage can be enrolled by registering his orphanage name in place of his parents. Eligible orphan brought up by a family can be enrolled by entering name of orphanage Eligible orphan legally adopted by family can be enrolled by entering his adopted father/mother’s name. Any orphan not covered under above mentioned categories can be enrolled by entering “Known” by BLO 14

Age • Parental Linkage in Electoral Roll (for citizenship issue) /citizenship proof • Ordinary residence • “Age proof” like birth certificate, 10th mark sheet etc. • Certificate from the head of the institution • (Student has the option to enroll themselves at their native place) Hostel Students New Voter Inclusion (Form 6) Married women Shifted from other AC Voters above 25 yrs • “Age proof” • Proof of Ordinary Residence before marriage • Marriage Registration Certificate • “proof of Ordinary Residence • Address of previous residence • Ac No.& if possible Part/Sl. No. of previous enrollment • EPIC or other citizenship evidence • Ordinary residence • Declaration as to delayed registration (age>25 yrs) (Part 4 of form 6) • Special care to verify citizenship status • Ordinary residence

Important Documents Needed for forms • For Age Proof (if the applicant is between 18 to 21) any of the following documents can be given) • Birth certificate issued by Municipal Authority or District Office or sarpanch of Gram Panchayat • School Leaving Certificate • Copy of mark sheet of class 10 if passed class 10 or more • Copy of marksheet of class 8 with date of birth • Copy of mark sheet of class 5 with date of birth • Parents declaration of the age if the child is not educated • PAN card, Adhar letter issued by UIDAI, Driving License, Passport ( If the applicant is above 21, declaration by the applicant can be taken as proof of his age)

Proof of Ordinary Residence (Either of the documents can be given) • Bank/Kisan/Post office current passbook • Applicant's Ration card/ Passport/ Driving License/ Income Tax Assessment Order • Latest Water/Telephone/Electricity/Gas connection Bill for that address, either in the name of the applicant or that of his/her immediate relation - Postal Departments posts received/ delivered in the applicant's name at the given address

Very Important Points • What is Linkage • - linkage is the relationship of the applicant with one or more enrolled electors • - applicants name is integrated with his or her family • If linkage is not possible • - Electors can enroll on the basis of the following proofs • (i) Citizenship • (ii) Age • (iii) Ordinary residence

FUSN Elector’s Photo Security Hologram Elector’s Name Elector’s Gender Elector’s Father/ Mother/ Husband’s Name Date of Birth Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) Front Side of EPIC 5 cm 8.4 cm

Elector’s Address EPIC Issuing Date EROs Signature Name & Number of AC Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) Back of EPIC

Some Key points • In case of change of residence EPIC issued earlier remains valid even at new place/AC • BLOs collect electors’ photograph: • Onsite mode: Designated photography Location (DPL) • Offsite Mode: along with Form 8 • Along with Form 6 • From house of electors with the help of camera teams • or even using mobile phone. • Collected photographs are digitized and entered in electoral roll database • EPIC is prepared from electoral roll database

Some Key points • BLOs also distribute EPICs to the electors as and when directed by ERO • Undistributed EPIC should be handed over to EROs by BLOs without fail • BLOs should take certain actions to avoid errors in the Photo Electoral Roll: Thoroughly check the checklist handed over by ERO/AERO Verify/ compare the copy with the manuscripts/photographs Sign every verified page Verify the EPIC number on roll with that on the card Oversee preparation of Mother roll and Supplements from the corrected database for his/her Part Attach verification certificate at end of the electoral roll

Gram Sabhas and Role of BLOs • BLOs read out the list of the following to the sabha • - Addition of names • - Deletion of names • - Modification of names • - Duplicate names • - Details of the households with more than 10 voters • The reading is done with an order issued under the signature of the concerned ERO • The following details are covered in the order • Name of AC: ______________ Courtesy: http://www.indiatogether.org/2005/sep/wom-attend.htm

Reporting of the Gram Sabha/Ward Meeting BLOs submit a report on completion of the meeting in the given format Report by BLO of Reading of Electoral Roll of Part in Gram Sabha/Ward Meeting Signature of BLO Name of BLO Designation Part No : AC Name: Signature of officer deputed Name of Officer Designation of Officer Signature of Talati Name of Talalti Village/Sehra: Please note: This report is to be send directly to the Office of the concerned AERO, with a copy marked to the concerned ERO * List of names given in column 7,8,9,10 to be read out in the gramshbha

Booth Level Agents (BLAs) BLAs are officers appointed by the political parties under the direction of Election Commission, to help BLOs in Electoral Roll Management Informs Appoints Election Commission Political Party Booth Level Agents Duties - Assists people in filing claim/objection properly - Remains present during the campaigns and help BLOs - Verifies and conducts survey of the dead and shifted electors - Is responsible if the survey is faulty - Understands and scrutinizes the electoral roll during meeting with BLO - Helps continuous updating of the electoral roll 25

Voter Slip • Voter slips are printed by DEOs as per the updated Electoral Roll. It provides details of Electors’ enrolment at a given Polling Station • It should be authenticated by ERO/BLO before distribution as it is used as an alternative document by elector for poll • Voter Slips have to be distributed to the Voters by visiting door to door by the concerned BLOs personally, one week before the Poll day. • Proper acknowledgement should be taken at the time of distribution. • BLO should be present outside the Polling Station with one set of voter slips for convenience to the Voters. Thank You

Training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) Contents