Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is seriously considering using modern IT solutions like video calls to verify overseas voters. The goal is simple: ensure every eligible non-resident Keralite can participate in the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without being accidentally left off the electoral rolls.
A key challenge identified is what happens when Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) try to verify overseas voters at their locked Kerala residences. Rathan U. Kelkar, the CEO, assured that his team is actively exploring digital verification methods for these voters. They also plan to proactively engage with Keralites living abroad, including students, through initiatives like NoRKA Roots and the Loka Kerala Sabha to register them.
Before a state-level consultation held with political parties, Mr. Kelkar convened an online meeting with non-resident Keralites and their representative organizations. He emphasized that verifying these voters shouldn’t be an issue, given their consistent internet access. His office is looking into various digital verification avenues, including email and WhatsApp video calls.
During the Saturday meeting with recognized political parties, Mr. Kelkar stressed the importance of appointing enough booth-level agents (BLAs) to ensure the SIR runs smoothly. While a good number of BLAs are already in place, he encouraged parties to appoint more to assist in addressing and resolving any issues effectively.
The CEO’s office reported that 58,517 BLAs have been appointed so far. Thiruvananthapuram leads with 7,342, followed by Kollam (6,283), Kozhikode (5,211), and Malappuram (5,129). Kasaragod (1,723) and Wayanad (1,245) currently have the fewest. BLAs play a crucial role, working alongside Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to help citizens navigate the electoral roll processes.
Addressing concerns raised by the political parties, Mr. Kelkar firmly stated that no eligible citizen would be excluded from the voter list, describing the SIR as a thorough ‘audit of the electoral rolls.’