Ranchi: Election Commission has launched an 11-day door-to-door verification drive across Jharkhand after the draft electoral roll flagged missing names, pending transfer requests and members of the same family being assigned different polling stations.“The ‘Home to Roll Verification’ campaign began on Aug 25 and will continue until Sept 4,” chief electoral officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said.Initial field verification found that some eligible voters had missed the earlier enrolment exercise, while others faced difficulties transferring their registration after changing residence. Officials also found several instances of family members living at the same address being registered at different polling stations.During the campaign, booth level officers (BLOs) will visit households to verify the details of eligible voters and identify residents whose names are missing from the draft rolls.“They will also check whether members of the same family are registered at different polling stations. Wherever required, they will help them submit Form 8 to shift their registration to the polling station corresponding to their ordinary place of residence,” Kumar said.EC aims to follow the “one family, one polling station” principle wherever feasible, officials said.BLOs will also help eligible residents whose names are missing submit Form 6 along with the required declaration. They will ensure that the applications are digitised.The drive will cover Jharkhand residents whose names remain enrolled in Bihar, West Bengal or other states. BLOs will assist them in transferring their enrolment to Jharkhand through Form 8 and the prescribed declaration.After verifying a household, BLOs will paste a ‘Family Together’ sticker carrying their contact details so that residents can seek further assistance.Kumar urged voters to check whether all eligible adult members of their families were on the rolls and submit the relevant forms for additions, transfers or corrections. Voters can also seek assistance through EC’s toll-free helpline, 1950, or the ‘Book a Call’ facility on the ECINET app.On Wednesday, Kumar directed all district election officers to strictly scrutinise discrepancies in ages and family records of applicants.“EROs must verify birth certificates, family lineage documents, khatian and genealogy records, and, wherever necessary, cross-check the details of all family members,” he said.Citing complaints that foreign nationals were allegedly attempting to enrol as voters using tampered documents, he ordered action under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. “Strict action must be taken against those who submit or facilitate the submission of false records,” he added.
