Maharashtra SIR: BLOs Told To Accept Voter Documents On WhatsApp, Verify At Homes If Needed

Maharashtra has opened another channel for voters responding to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam directing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to consider documents sent through WhatsApp and visit voters’ homes for verification where required.

Under the arrangement, voters who receive notices generated through the Election Commission’s ECINet software can send the documents sought from them to their respective BLOs through WhatsApp, an official from the state election machinery said on Wednesday. BLOs have also been instructed to conduct physical verification at households if they consider it necessary.

The move comes as the SIR process in Maharashtra faces scrutiny over how voter records are being examined and how electoral officials are expected to deal with discrepancies. Chockalingam had earlier sought changes to the ECINet software to give Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) greater discretion in handling anomalies found in electoral rolls.

The issue has become politically contentious, with the Congress alleging that the statutory role of EROs in determining voter eligibility was being diluted through the software-driven process. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the SIR decisions were taken by the three-member commission unanimously.

The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period concerning certain SIR-related decisions and orders. The Opposition has alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took unilateral decisions, an allegation that the Election Commission has rejected through its clarification on the decision-making process.

Meanwhile, the deadline for filing claims and objections in Maharashtra has been extended from September 30 to October 12. The disposal of notices, claims and objections is scheduled to continue until November 10, while the final electoral roll is expected to be published on November 16.

The WhatsApp facility and home verification mechanism could therefore become important as voters respond to notices, particularly where document submission or physical access to election offices presents difficulties. The arrangement also places greater responsibility on BLOs to verify documents and ensure that eligible voters are not left out during the revision process.