Maharashtra Voter Roll Revision Deadline Extended to August 8 Amid Heavy Rains

The Election Commission of India has announced an extension of the deadline for the intensive revision of electoral rolls in Maharashtra, pushing it to August 8. This decision comes in light of a request from the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, who highlighted the challenges posed by recent heavy rainfall affecting the enumeration process.

The initial deadline for completing the house-to-house verification of voters was set for July 29. However, with the additional 10 days granted to booth-level officers, the revision aims to ensure a more accurate voter registration process. As a result of this extension, the publication of the draft voter list will now occur on August 17 instead of the previously scheduled August 5.

Following the release of the draft list, citizens will have the opportunity to raise claims and objections regarding the voter rolls. The window for filing these objections has also been adjusted, now running from August 17 to September 16, extending it past the earlier deadline of September 4. The final electoral roll is slated for publication on October 19, a shift from the original date of October 7.

Data from the Election Commission indicates that as of the latest reports, only 35.1% of the enumeration forms in Maharashtra have been digitized. The situation in major urban areas shows significant disparity; Mumbai has achieved a digitization rate of 15.3%, while its suburbs lag at 8.3%, and the Thane district stands at 8.4%. On the other hand, Yavatmal district is leading the state with a commendable digitization rate of 67.6%, followed closely by Ratnagiri at 65.9%.

Maharashtra is one of 16 states currently undergoing this third phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The Election Commission has also recently extended similar deadlines for the voter roll revision in other states, including Delhi, Punjab, Karnataka, and Telangana, showcasing a nationwide effort to enhance the electoral process.

Source: scroll.in