The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala has refuted reports alleging that a young female Booth Level Officer faced overwhelming work demands during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The CEO clarified that the remaining tasks for BLOs mainly involve distributing hearing notices, as the revision process nears completion.
Addressing concerns, the CEO highlighted that the workload for BLOs has been minimized, with an average of only a few individuals per booth. The rationalization of polling booths has led to the creation of additional booths and a cap of under 1,200 voters per booth to reduce the burden on officers. BLOs involved in the revision process have also been relieved from other official duties.
To support officers, the Election Commission has extended timelines for the revision process and organized initiatives like ‘Joyathon’ and ‘BLO of the Day’ to recognize outstanding performance and alleviate stress. The CEO’s office emphasized the importance of accurate information dissemination and instructed district collectors to monitor reports that could hinder officers’ work or cause unnecessary panic.
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision process in Kerala has faced scrutiny in the past due to workload issues, prompting interventions to support officers. The Election Commission has assured officers facing challenges that they can seek immediate assistance from their Electoral Registration Officer or request temporary relief based on health or personal reasons.
