EC calling: Voters asked to rate poll officials

To collect the feedback about the 1.28 lakh BLOs across the state,the CEO has constituted a 30-member communication team to talk to voters over phone and get responses about at least 100 BLOs daily.

The team was constituted last week and its members have started contacting voters. The phone numbers of the voters were collected during a door-to-door survey last month.

“The communication team will conduct a random check of BLOs’ working and collect feedback directly from voters. The team will inquire voters about the recent visits of BLOs in their area and their help in redressal of electoral roll-related complaints,” said Umesh Sinha,Chief Electoral Officer,Uttar Pradesh.

If voters of any particular booth area complain that their local BLO was not redressing their complaints of EPIC of electoral roll or his movement in the area was negligible,the CEO will seek explanation from the BLO concerned and direct the District Election Officer (DEO) to take action against him.

The team will continue with the feedback collection till the completion of summary revision of electoral roll in December. After that,the same team will collect public’s feedback about the activities of various political parties and candidates in their constituencies.

When the notification of Assembly elections will be issued,the same team will contact the voters over phone to collect feed back regarding election campaigns of candidates,use of malpractices and situation of law and order in their area. The team will also seek voters’ suggestions for better security and other arrangements during elections. The voters could inform the CEO if any candidate or other person was threatening them or offering money to vote in his favor.

“The direct communication with voters will help us in better election management during Assembly elections due next year,” said Sinha.