The Election Commission of India has instructed Electoral Registration Officers in West Bengal to avoid adding explanatory notes on identity documents during hearings on draft voters’ lists. Specifically, they are told not to use the term “verified” on these documents. Micro-observers overseeing these sessions are also directed to ensure no additional notes are made except for necessary signatures.
The rationale behind this directive is to emphasize that receiving documents during hearings does not equate to verification or authentication. The documents will undergo a three-stage verification process involving EROs, District Magistrates, and the commission’s technical team. This measure aims to hold electoral officers accountable throughout the hearing process.
The ongoing hearing sessions for “unmapped” voters in West Bengal are part of a two-phase process. The next phase will address voters with logical discrepancies, such as unusual family-tree data discovered during mapping exercises. The final voters’ list is scheduled for publication on February 14, followed by the announcement of polling dates for the upcoming state Assembly elections.
