Delhi SIR deadline extension, special camps expected to boost elector enrolment

This comes as progress on increasing enrolment of fresh electors and resolving notices issued to existing ones has remained slow after the SIR exercise started on June 30 in the Capital. Of the 97.5 lakh electors who made it to the draft rolls, one-third, or around 33.1 lakh electors, were asked to prove their eligibility to stay on the electoral roll. Till Sunday, hearings of 2.98 lakh electors, or 9% of those who got notices, had been conducted, as per the official data.

Booth level officers (BLOs) and senior election officials told The Indian Express that a variety of factors — ranging from lack of awareness and interest, to challenges related to documentation – have led to a low number of Form-6 applications being filed.

“We have tried to spread awareness through radio jingles, Metro announcements, and newspaper advertisements that whoever wants to be on the rolls can now start applying,” said an official at the office of Delhi’s chief electoral officer (CEO)

No election, no hurry

A BLO pointed out that since there are no elections due in Delhi, which could impact those who have been deleted from the draft rolls. “So most people don’t have a sense of urgency for filling in the application,” the BLO said, adding that the few forms he received had been filled in and submitted when he had nudged the people.

“People are just not interested. They are not calling or coming to us,” said another booth officer from West Delhi.

Another BLO from East Delhi referred to a new section in Form-6 where applicants must fill in their parents’ details from the last SIR. “How will the people who got deleted because they could not find a link to the last SIR roll or are less aware get documents to prove this?” he asked. The Indian Express had reported in July that the Form 6 has a new section that seeks the status of the applicant’s parents vis-a-vis the last SIR of electoral rolls.

He recalled having 1,500 electors before the draft rolls were published. Around 900 filled in the enumeration form, he said. After the rationalisation exercise, 511 electors were allocated to him in the draft electoral roll. He has received only 4 Form-6 applications now.

Another BLO, who had around half of his 1,000 electors deleted from the draft roll, has received only 10 Form 6 applications. “People are frustrated with the SIR now. They are getting angry about how many times they are being asked to show documents,” he said.

Another reason BLOs cite is that the deletions were genuine. “The only applications I have received are from those registering for the first time, not those who want to register after being deleted. There are very rare cases where people who were either outside the country or town and got deleted are now filling in the form,” a BLO from New Delhi district said.