Ranchi: Election Commission’s special camps across Ranchi wore a deserted look on Wednesday, even as officials stepped up efforts to update and verify electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).Set up at all polling stations from Oct 7 to 9, the camps were meant to help voters digitise Form-6 applications and process Forms 7 and 8. However, several centres reported sparse footfall, with few voters turning up and, in some cases, even booth level officers (BLOs) being absent or present in limited numbers.Officials attributed the low turnout to the commission’s recent decision allowing voters to complete SIR related formalities from home with the assistance of BLOs.“People are perhaps now waiting for the BLOs to come to their houses,” an official said.While polling stations remained largely quiet, the district collectorate continued to buzz with activity. BLOs, teachers and volunteers were engaged in scrutinising forms, digitising applications and forwarding verified records to the district election office.Among those assisting with the workload were teachers and volunteers, including Tusi Mondal of DMS Tharpakna Bangla School, Muskaren Lakra of St Margaret’s UP Girls School, Satyanarayan Mahato of GPS Kanya Silwai School and Amita Kumari of GPS Old Police Line School. “We are just doing the work we have been given,” Kumari said.Chief electoral officer K Ravi Kumar has directed district authorities to intensify publicity for the camps, coordinate with recognised political parties and ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral roll.Officials said discrepancies in voter records could arise from errors in enumeration forms, mapping mistakes or problems in legacy data, making verification a key part of the exercise.With the camps continuing through Thursday and a district-wide mega helpdesk scheduled for Oct 10, election authorities are now trying to reach voters who appear to be relying on doorstep assistance rather than visiting polling stations.
