Around 100% distribution of enumeration forms in Delhi reflect door-to-door coverage, not voter receipt: official

As the enumeration phase of the special intensive revision (SIR) is progressing at a quick pace in the Capital, election officials said that the nearly 100% distribution of forms during the door-to-door verification phase does not mean that every elector was personally handed over the form, but it reflects that a form has been delivered or an attempt was made to deliver one to every Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) address in Delhi’s electoral roll.

This includes forms dropped off for those being identified as absent, shifted, duplicate and dead (ASDD), accounting to nearly 2 lakh so far, as well as those who might have filled out their forms online, said Deputy Chief Election Officer Prashant Kumar.

A fifth category marked as “others” is also being reported. It includes electors who refused to sign or share details, or whose family records in India cannot be traced.

So far, 99% enumeration forms are reported to be delivered to 1.43 crore of Delhi’s electorate, and only 14.35% of it digitised and uploaded on the portal. This phase, as per the revised schedule, will wrap up on August 8, followed by publication of the draft rolls on August 17.

“The distribution figures not only account for the electors who were handed over the forms by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs), but also addresses which were visited, and the enumeration form was attempted to be given in the door-to-door visits including those which were untraceable, like demolished houses.” Mr. Kumar clarified. He adds that the figure doesn’t imply the absolute number of electors who have received the forms.

Another election official said, “When the door is locked or nobody attends, the form is left at the door or slid underneath. The BLO will visit at least three times to verify shifted and absent voters before finally submitting details for publishing of draft rolls. If a neighbour or a resident confirms that the elector has shifted or is dead, then the BLO notes that.”

ASDD and ‘others’

The BLOs have so far noted 1,37,450 shifted voters, over 36,000 dead voters, over 10,000 duplicate voters, over 13,000 absent or untraceable voters. A voter is marked ‘shifted’ if they are not found at their EPIC address, while ‘duplicate’ voters are those found enrolled elsewhere, possessing two EPIC numbers.

They have also reported over 1,300 voters in the ‘others’ category. “This is the category of voters who either refused to share their details or sign on the forms, or don’t have any past family records in India, which we count in the total figures too,” an official said. “Such voters are being ‘suspected as foreign nationals’, said the BLOs and officials.

A BLO from south-east Delhi, who did not wish to be named, said, “We have been told to identify people who might be foreigners. When we ask for family details and they don’t have any, we mark their forms in ‘others’ category.”

Uncollected forms

Speaking to The Hindu, a group of BLOs said even though they have tried to go door-to-door and set up camps to give forms to every elector in the roll, they still have uncollected forms. Many also highlighted challenges with door-to-door delivery and verification as addresses remain identical, incomplete, and vague.

“I still have 20% of the forms uncollected. I have been to their homes, but nobody was there at the time of visit. If they contact me till the deadline, I will provide them with the forms,” said a BLO.

All the electors who return their enumeration forms duly filled and signed, whether mapped or unmapped, will appear in the draft electoral roll. In case of any discrepancies, respective Election Registration Officers will send them notices during the claim and objections periods, said the official.