Nagpur: After widespread criticism by politicians of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for failing to deliver voter slips to households on time during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the district administration has taken measures to address the issue ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls. The administration has appointed 4,631 BLOs across the district to ensure that voter slips are delivered to every household 48 hours before the election date.
A dedicated helpline number (7757988898) has been set up for voters to lodge complaints if they do not receive voter slips. The helpline, which can also be accessed via WhatsApp, aims to streamline the process and provide quick resolution for voters facing issues with voter slips.
Names missing from voter lists became a major controversy during the Lok Sabha elections, as many people were deprived of their vote. Even Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress leader Nana Patole had said that many names were missing from the voter list. BLOs were blamed for not fulfilling their responsibilities, and this prompted the election department to act swiftly to avoid a repeat of the situation.
Collector Vipin Itankar said, "It is mandatory for BLOs to deliver voter slips 48 hours before polling. If any dispute arises or if the voter slip does not reach the voter in time, strict action will be taken." To ensure accountability, the election department has formed independent supervisory teams to monitor the BLOs. Itankar also emphasised the importance of voters providing their full name, EPIC number, mobile number, constituency name, and residential address when registering complaints.
District information officer Vinod Rapatwar told TOI, "We have multiple channels for voters to access polling station information, ensuring that even if a voter slip does not reach them, they can still obtain necessary details." He added that using the Voter Helpline App or Voter Service Portal, voters can quickly verify their polling station by entering their EPIC or mobile number.
The newly updated list released by the administration, adds over 2.22 lakh new voters to the voter list compared to LS elections. In the LS polls, the district recorded a voter turnout of 54.30%, after which allegations were raised that many voters came to the polling booths but were unable to find their names in the voter list. During the 2019 assembly elections, the district saw an average turnout of 55% across its 12 constituencies, the lowest in Vidarbha back then.
In response to the needs of elderly and disabled voters, the election commission has introduced a facility allowing home voting for eligible voters over 85 years who have more than 40 percent disability. The provision enables these voters to participate in the democratic process without having to visit the polling station, an arrangement designed to meet accessibility requirements.