1 hr ago
Telangana Officials Say Voter Names Cannot Be Automatically Deleted
Election officials in Telangana are checking voter lists for possible mistakes.
They say a voter’s name cannot simply be removed automatically.
The voter must first receive a notice and get a chance to explain the situation.
An official must then write down the legal reasons for any deletion.
This written explanation is called a “speaking order.”
A voter can appeal the decision to senior election authorities.
More than 3,000 names have already been removed during the review.
Officials have not confirmed whether every required step was followed in those cases.
Telangana poll officials said no voter’s name can be deleted without a hearing and a written “speaking order.”
The order must explain the legal reasons for deletion and can be appealed to the Collector or Chief Electoral Officer.
More than 3,000 names have been deleted after 92.88 lakh notices were generated during the Special Intensive Revision.
Nearly 10 lakh voters across Telangana have yet to receive notices.
Officials could not confirm whether the required procedure had been followed in the deletions already made.
- Who
- Telangana poll officials, Electoral Registration Officers, and affected voters.
- What
- Officials clarified that voter names cannot be deleted without notice, a hearing, document verification, and a reasoned written order.
- Where
- Across Telangana, with the report filed from Hyderabad.
- When
- During the ongoing Special Intensive Revision; no specific date was provided.
- Why
- To ensure that voter deletions follow Election Commission of India procedures and can be reviewed or appealed.
Key facts
- Review exercise
- Special Intensive Revision of Telangana’s electoral rolls
- Notices generated
- 92.88 lakh notices were generated after ERONET flagged logical discrepancies or anomalies.
- Names deleted
- More than 3,000 names had been deleted from the rolls.
- Notices pending
- Nearly 10 lakh voters had yet to receive notices across Telangana.
- Required process
- Notice, opportunity for a hearing, document verification, and a speaking order explaining the decision.
- Appeal authorities
- Voters can appeal to the Collector and the Chief Electoral Officer.
- Official accountability
- Officials may face action if the prescribed deletion procedure is not followed or if there is misconduct.
Quotes
Higher poll official
A senior election official discussing the required safeguards for electoral-roll deletions
“If a voter’s name is deleted, it should be accompanied with a speaking order. There should not be any deviation from the rule prescribed by the Election Commission of India. The official who is deleting should have to substantiate.”
deccanchronicle.com
“They will be notified and BLO will inform them”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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