2 hrs ago
Poll Officials' Failure to Give Acknowledgements Raises Voter Anxiety
Officials are checking voter names and documents in Hyderabad.
Some voters say they handed in documents but received no written acknowledgement.
An acknowledgement would show that the officials received their papers.
The election chief had told officials to provide these confirmations.
However, voters and volunteers say the instruction is not being followed in many places.
This makes people worry that their names or documents may not have been recorded correctly.
Officials have reportedly said voters may only know their status when the final list is published.
The final voter list is expected on November 9.
About 60 lakh people have completed hearings and are expected to remain on the list.
Voters in most Hyderabad booths say officials did not provide acknowledgements after hearings and document submissions.
The acknowledgements were intended to confirm that voters' documents had been received during the special intensive revision.
Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharsan Reddy directed officials on August 28 to issue acknowledgements.
Volunteers and voters say officials recorded details but often only entered them in registers without giving proof.
More than 80 lakh notices were served, while nearly 60 lakh voters completed hearings and were retained for the final list.
- Who
- Voters, booth-level officers, assistant electoral registration officers, and other election officials are involved.
- What
- Many voters reportedly were not given acknowledgements after submitting documents during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- The complaints come from booths across Hyderabad, including Chandrayangutta and Jubilee Hills constituencies.
- When
- The issue was reported during the claims and objections period; the chief electoral officer issued the acknowledgement instruction on August 28, and the final list is due on November 9.
- Why
- The missing acknowledgements have left voters without proof of submission and uncertain about whether their names will remain on the electoral roll.
Voter and Volunteer Concerns
Election Officials' Process
Whether submissions are properly documented
Voter and Volunteer Concerns
Voters and volunteers say officials often accepted documents and recorded details without giving acknowledgements, leaving voters without proof.
Election Officials' Process
Officials were reportedly uploading documents, taking photographs, and entering names in registers, while senior officials instructed them to process cases and provide adequate time for supporting documents.
How voters can check their status
Voter and Volunteer Concerns
Voters say they cannot access uploaded details and are anxious because they have no confirmation that their submissions were accepted.
Election Officials' Process
Officials reportedly told voters that their status could be confirmed only when the final voter list is published on November 9.
Key facts
- Acknowledgement directive
- Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharsan Reddy instructed officials on August 28 to provide acknowledgements.
- Voters flagged
- About 93 lakh voters were flagged in earlier special intensive revision phases.
- Notices served
- More than 80 lakh notices have been served.
- Hearings completed
- Nearly 60 lakh voters have completed hearings and been retained for publication in the final list.
- Deletions
- About 3,000 votes were deleted after hearings during the current claims and objections phase.
- Final voter list
- The final list is scheduled to be published on November 9.
Quotes
Md Husamuddin Mateen
A resident of Riyasathnagar in Hyderabad’s Chandrayangutta constituency
“During my visit to the local booth, I found they were uploading documents and clicking photos of individuals after the hearing, but no acknowledgement was given. Either this was not communicated properly by higher officials or the officials don’t want the responsibility. Neither the BLO nor the AERO present had any idea about the acknowledgement.”
deccanchronicle.com
“It is not that they are not recording details, but they are registering names in a register without providing acknowledgement. BLOs are least bothered. Since their responsibility was almost completed by handing over notices, they just want to finish by accepting documents. The burden now rests with the voter.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
Related news
Hyderabad voters face growing confusion over SIR notices
Collector Says Electoral Notices Do Not Mean Vote Deletion
Hyderabad SIR hearings see low voter turnout amid document concerns
Voter Form Shortages Threaten Electoral Roll Corrections
Aadhaar Recognition Sought Amid Special Electoral Roll Verification
Raidurg Metro Commuters Face Eight-Minute Peak-Hour Train Wait
Indian Rock Python Rescued From Dance Performance in Hyderabad
Revenue Department Begins Survey of Assigned Land Near KCR Farmhouse
Officials Directed to Complete Hyderabad Bapu Ghat Arrangements
Caretaker Suspected in Hyderabad Gold and Cash Theft
