Karnataka SIR eases rules for elderly, disabled persons, sick and NRI voters
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office has directed the election officials to allow adult family members to appear on behalf of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sick persons and overseas electors in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a memorandum issued on Friday, Joint Chief Electoral Officer S. Yogeshwara directed election officials to permit any adult family member of such electors to appear in person before the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) on their behalf and submit the required documents and information for disposal of notices issued to them.
The direction follows a reference to the Election Commission of India (ECI) letter issued on May 14 this year, concerning the disposal of notices issued to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sick persons and overseas electors.
The CEO’s office has asked the District Election Officer, Bengaluru, the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), District Election Officers and Deputy Commissioners across the state, as well as Additional District Election Officers of BBMP Central, North and South election districts, to issue necessary instructions to the EROs and AEROs.
The measure is aimed at making the SIR-related process more accessible for electors, who may face difficulties in appearing before election officials personally.
The memorandum also directs EROs and AEROs to explain the procedure being followed for issuing and disposing of notices during meetings with political parties held on a weekly basis at their respective levels.
The instructions have also been circulated to the Commissioner of the Department of Information and Public Relations for publicity, besides all Electoral Registration Officers, AEROs and Additional AEROs of the state’s 224 Assembly constituencies.
The latest direction comes amid the ongoing SIR exercise in Karnataka, under which election authorities are undertaking verification and revision of electoral rolls. The arrangement allowing adult family members to represent vulnerable categories is expected to ease the process of responding to notices and submitting the necessary documents.
The office of the CEO has also released photos and videos of officers reaching out to the vulnerable voters and enabling them to enrol their names in the voters’ list.