Amid concerns regarding identity verification during SIR, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Magistrates (DMs) to submit daily progress reports on document verification. The EROs and DEOs have been directed to conduct a two-stage document verification process, with the first stage by EROs and the second by DEOs, as per sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. The Commission has also outlined the responsibilities of special roll observers and micro-observers in the authentication process.
The micro-observers at the hearing centers will oversee the verification of identity documents by EROs and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) to ensure compliance with ECI guidelines. They are tasked with reporting any significant deviations from the prescribed guidelines to the Commission. Additionally, special roll observers have been authorized to randomly check the documents verified by DMs and DEOs during the second stage of authentication.
According to sources in the CEO’s office, the Commission deems the daily reports on document verification crucial for expediting the process, especially with the final voters’ list set to be released on February 14. Currently, hearings are ongoing for “unmapped” voters in West Bengal who lack connections to the 2002 voters’ list through “self-mapping” or “progeny-mapping.” Subsequently, individuals with “logical discrepancy” cases identified during “progeny-mapping” will be summoned for hearings.
The final voters’ list is scheduled for publication on February 14, after which the Commission is expected to announce the polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
