Lucknow, August 25: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasized the crucial role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in India’s electoral democracy during a recent dialogue. He stated that the electoral process in India operates with full transparency under the Constitution, laws, and directives from the Election Commission. Kumar called on BLOs to enhance voter turnout, especially among youth and women who have moved to new locations after marriage, ensuring that every eligible voter is included in the electoral rolls.
Kumar highlighted that India has approximately 970 million voters, making it part of the world’s largest democratic electoral process. During Lok Sabha elections, around 18 million personnel are deployed for the electoral process. He noted that the effective operation of this extensive electoral system relies heavily on the contributions of about 1.2 million BLOs. During his interaction, he also shared his personal connections to Lucknow, emphasizing that his dialogue with BLOs felt more like a family gathering than a formal meeting.
He stressed that the responsibility of BLOs extends beyond merely preparing the voter list. They must ensure that no eligible citizen is deprived of their voting rights. This includes removing names of those who are absent, have moved, are deceased, have duplicate entries, or are ineligible foreign nationals, while also adding every eligible citizen who has turned 18.
Kumar mentioned a three-tier concurrent audit system to ensure transparency in the electoral process. Representatives from political parties and candidates are present at every stage, from the draft voter list to voting and counting. The voter list prepared by BLOs is tested at the level of booth agents from political parties.
On polling day, the process from mock polls to filling Form-17C and sealing the EVMs is conducted in the presence of candidates’ polling agents. Similarly, counting agents are present during the counting process. Kumar emphasized that stakeholder participation and monitoring at every crucial step of the election process enhance transparency.
He urged BLOs to increase voter awareness and participation in the upcoming elections in a large state like Uttar Pradesh. It is vital to reach out to youth, first-time voters, and women who have relocated after marriage, ensuring that no eligible citizen is left without the right to vote. The Chief Election Commissioner concluded that conducting fair elections is not enough for a strong democracy; maximizing the electoral participation of eligible citizens is equally important. In this context, the role of BLOs emerges as a critical link between the Election Commission and the general electorate.
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