Training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

1. Training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

2. Booth Level Agents EPIC BLOs role in Gram Sabhas BLOs Duties & Roles Enrollment of electors Photo Electoral Rolls BLO Register BLOs Appointment One day Schedule

3. Session 1 Ice Breaker

4. Count the circles

5. Count the circles now You can make things easier by doing them systematically

6. Session 2/1Position of BLOs in the electoral administration

7. Administrative Machinery of Electoral Registration Election Commission of India (ECI) Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) District Election Officer (DEO) Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Supervisor Booth Level Officer (BLO)

8. Booth Level Officer (BLO) • He is responsible for maintaining the electoral roll of the assigned part area under the control and supervision of Election Commission of India/ Chief Electoral Officer of state/DEO/ERO/AERO concerned • BLO's are appointed under section 13B(2) – RP Act,1950 (From 2006), after obtaining the prior approval of District Election Officer (DEO) concerned • Under Section 13CC – RP Act, 1950 - BLO functions under the control & supervision of ECI/CEO of state • Selection of BLOs will be from the employees of State government/local bodies for allocation of one part • EROs/ AEROs are expected to have contact details of their BLOs which is updated on the website of ECI/CEO. • Each BLO will be issued a special kit and is entitled to remuneration • Punishment for willful default u/s 32 RP Act 1950

9. Session 2/2Know your AC parts Area

10. AC Parts and Sections • Electoral Rolls are organized as geographically defined parts • Parts are numbered and organized as geographically identified sections • Sections denote locality and area details and contain household wise individual elector details • Each part has an identified polling station where electors cast their votes on the poll day Electoral Rolls Parts Sections Locality Area Households

11. 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 build in their part area are depicted in the Nazari map for next revision • If possible GIS map of the map should be procured/ copied from the internet. • Develop local contacts in their sections to remain updated about the advent of new persons, shifting of residents, death etc.

12. TO PREPARE CORRECT MAP BY FREE HAND EYE ESTIMATION (NAZARI MAP) OF PART AREA • Prepare Nazari map by freehand clearly indicating sections within the part.

13. Sample of Nazari (illustrative)

14. 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. • Serialization of the houses should be in ascending order beginning from North-West to South-East in zigzag manner

15. Quiz Time • The house no. of an elector in the electoral roll and that given by the municipality is not the same. What is the reason behind it? • What should be done if the name of a person, who is not ordinarily resident of that area, is included in the electoral roll? • Where can an elector check up whether his/her name is there or not in the voter’s list?

16. Session 3/1Know the electoral role of the part under your charge

17. Photo Electoral Roll

18. Electoral Roll Section 15 RP Act, 1950 – “Every constituency should have an electoral roll” - The Text roll as below earlier, now photo electoral roll Photo Electoral Roll Text Roll

19. AC No. and Name of the State of Meghalaya Details of the parts of the AC Components • Title Page • The Title page has : • Details of the concerned Assemblyconstituency • Clearly demarcated Nazari map of that assembly constituency on the back of the title page

20. Part No. of the AC in the state of Meghalaya Details of the sections of the part • Header Page • Header page has: • details of the concerned part area • clearly demarcated Nazari map of that part area on the back of it.

21. Section pages • The pages of the section has: • name of the section on the top of the page • details related to the concerned AC • list of electors arranged house number wise of every section starting with one and goes horizontally • details of electors with photo Details of the sections Details of the assembly House No. Electors details

22. Supplement • Supplement page has: • Modified list of electors published as draft • Addition list starting with last serial number of the mother roll • Deletion list with no changes in the serial number and the part header • One or more supplements can be attached with mother roll due to several revisions Summary of Electors AdditionList DeletionList

23. Name of AC Name of PC Details of AC • Mother Roll • The first copy of the electoral roll created by the BLOs by visiting house to house and published by the EROs • Any addition, deletion or changes are reflected in the supplement roll of that year. • There is provision for integration of these rolls also

24. Sample 1 – Change due to deletion Mother Roll Supplement

25. Sample 2 – Change due to correction (Incorrect photo) Entry in Mother Roll Entry in Supplement – for change

26. Entry in Mother Roll Entry in Supplement Changes in the total number of the entries

27. Session 3/2Physical verification of the roll

28. Physical Verification Of The Electoral Roll • With the help of BLO register, physical verification of the electoral roll by house to house visits. This work will be done every year before revision of rolls • Identify and collect the information during field visits to update and correct the electoral roll 28

29. Questions to be asked during House to House Verification Is the section address correct? Is the Pin Code number correct? Whether elector's photo image is correct? (If it is wrong or not available the correct photo is to be collected). Whether the EPIC number is correct? (This is to be verified from the actual EPIC). Whether elector's birth date is shown? If not shown what is the correct birth date? If birth date is not available, what is the age (verify birth date with evidence and if not verifiable the “birth date” column should be left blank). Whether the house number given by Nagarpalika / MahaNagarpalika is correctly noted? If no house number has been given by urban local body then it need not be verified.

30. Questions to be asked during House to House Verification Whether the Gujarati spelling of the name of the elector is correct? Whether the English spelling of the name of the elector is correct? Whether the relationship mentioned in the roll is correct? Whether the gender is correct? Whether the age is correct as on qualifying date? Whether any names or all of the names of any/all family members have been repeated in the part roll?

31. Questions to be asked during House to House Verification Whether all the above particulars are correct for each and every member of the family enrolled in that part? Whether anybody possesses more than one EPIC for the same elector? (In such case the latest issued EPIC may be retained with the elector and the EPIC number be verified with PER entry. EPIC/s issued earlier may be taken back and deposited with the ERO). Whether name of any family member is required to be deleted on account of tragic demise. (Obtain Form No.-7) Whether any or all members of the family have shifted? If they have shifted, whether it is “with family” (WF) or “without family” (WoF). Obtain Form No.7 from WoF and issue notice on the spot. In case of WF, follow procedure for Form 7/ Panchnama. Probable reasons of shifting should be mentioned. What is the telephone number of each voter enrolled in the family? If the family prefers to give only one telephone number for all, take note accordingly ( Annexure-II).

32. Is there any member of the family who has turned 18 years on qualifying date and is yet to be enrolled? (Give Form-6 and note in Annexure-II). Is there any member of the family who has recently joined this household on the grounds of marriage, employment, tenant etc? (Give Form 6 and note in Annexure-II). Are there any new societies, public building, public areas that have come up since the last revision of rolls in the knowledge of the voter? If yes, check whether there are voters living there, if yes then Form No.6 or Form No. 8A as required may be given and details noted in Annexure-II. What is the total number of members of the family including voters and non-voters residing in the household? Out of the total family members residing in the household (including voters and non-voters) how many are male and how many female? Questions to be asked during House to House Verification

33. Session 4/1Revision

34. Election Commission of India (ECI) Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) District Election Officer (DEO) Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Supervisor Designated Officer (DLO) Booth Level Officer (BLO) Administrative Machinery of Electoral System Roll observer 34

35. Types of Revisions • Intensive Revision: • Done de-novo without reference to earlier existing roll in an election year. • BLO visits each house to take fresh entries in Form 6 • Summary Revision: • Done every year except in the year when intensive revision is ordered • No need of House to house survey • Existing roll published inviting claims and objections • After disposal of claims, rolls are published • Partly Intensive & Partly Summary Revision: • Existing roll is published in draft • BLOs verify/collect data from the households • After disposal of claims, list of addition, deletion and correction are prepared & published with main roll 35

36. Special Revision: • Due to the reason of inaccuracies like omission, left out area etc, special revision is carried out • May be intensive, summary or partly intensive and partly summary revision 36

37. Continuous updating of electoral roll The continuous updating is operative from final publication to the next draft publication not operative during the revision of the electoral roll not operative from the last day of nominations to the end of election process The list of entries for updating - should be put on the notice board every month and this requires BLOs to give updated data every month to EROs - should be disposed and prepared in the manuscript in duplicate by latest 25th of next month The EROs maintain the o-wise four registers for forms 6,7,8, and 8A 37

38. 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 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. 38

39. Part & Sl. No. of previous enrollment Transposition (Form 8A) EPIC Ordinary residence Correction (Form 8) Part & Sl. No. of enrollment Evidence in favour of correction sought for

40. 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 • Collective acknowledgment/receipt should be issued for the same • Incorrect or incomplete application should not be accepted. 40

41. Procedure of receiving claims and objections • For special campaign days, ERO appoints Designated Officer • Written instructions given to the Designated Officer to remain present at earmarked venue • Designated Officer/ BLO will maintain list in form 9, 10, 11 and 11A for applications received in form _____________ • Designated Officer/BLO write their recommendations on the application received for claims/objections before sending to ERO • BLO writes comments on records submitted by the applicant for proof of his age. Form 6,7,8, 8A. 41

42. Procedure of receiving claims and objections • Hearing on application of claim/objections commence after being exhibited in form ___________ for 7 days - Rule 16(b), RER 1960 • During revision period, any claim/objection not lodged within the specified period and in the given format is rejected by ____________ • ERO specifies date, time and place of hearing of claim/objection in the list Form 9,10,11, 11A. ERO 42

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45. Registration of persons holding declared offices • Any holder of a declared office like Presidents, Speaker of LokSabha etc can enroll in the electoral roll in his home address (Form 1) • ERO ensures that the names of all MP, MLA, MLC are enrolled in the electoral roll. • ERO produces a certificate to CEO mentioning the names of MP, MLA, and MLC who are enrolled in electoral roll at the time of draft publication. 45

46. Enrollment of overseas electors • An overseas elector is • - an Indian citizen absent from his place of ordinary residence in India due to employment, education or otherwise • - has neither included his name in electoral roll nor has acquired citizenship of any other country • He/she can register the name in the electoral roll from the part area mentioned in his/her passport • Any overseas elector who has completed the age of 18 years can submit his application form 6A either in person or by post to the concerned AERO/ERO of the residential area mentioned in his passport 46

47. Enrollment of overseas electors (Contd.) • Role of BLOs • On instruction from ERO, verify the self attested copies sent by the applicant • No EPIC to overseas electors • The electors overseas are not issued EPIC but use their passport for their identification to caste a vote 47

48. Enrolment of Service Voters • Person belonging to any of the following has ‘Service’ qualification and • is referred to as Service voter • A member of armed forces of India • A member of force under the provisions of the army Act, 1950 • A member of an Armed Police Force of State who is serving • outside that State • Employed under the Government of India in a post outside India • Wife of any members mentioned above who is ordinarily residing • with him 48

49. Enrolment of Service Voters (Contd.) ? • Three kinds of forms 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 decides to register as a general voter - His/ her family members who are not service voters want to register. 49

50. 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 • Fill form 6 for the children of all service voters eligible to be registered as • ordinary voters • 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 • Should visit the units of service voters to ensure above. 50