Effective Management of Electoral Rolls in a critical border AC Assembly Constituency -36 (Bijwasan) District South-West Delhi Presentation before the ECI 29 th Dec Ankur Garg (DEO, South West Delhi) Dr. Sonal Swaroop (RO / ERO AC 36)

Large inter-State border with Gurgaon Areas – Vasant Kunj, Mahipalpur, Rangpuri, Samalakha, Kapashera, Bijwasan, AE 2015 – 1,86,259 voters, 168 Polling Stations

A sensitive constituency Long inter-State boundary with Gurgaon – Porous borders with heavy daily in-flow and out-flow of residents – Attempt to enrol in both Delhi and Haryana to get benefits of both States – Almost next to impossible to put up check points Allegations of duplicate voters within AC Rangpuri Pahari – Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants Charged political atmoshphere – personal rivalries

Problem July 2014 onwards, CEO / DEO office started receiving complaints a)Existence of duplicate voters within the AC b) Existence of names of people staying and enrolled in Gurgaon in Bijwasan rolls

Complaints Received in Bijwasan Constituency

Advance Preparations Elections likely in Feb Special BLO trainings in Nov. and Dec – sensitization about the problem BLOs – directed to scan their area thoroughly; ensure knowledge of each household VRC Staff – trained and sensitied

Since large number of complaints, SOP... Names > % D-to-D Is error > 10% 100% D-to-DIssue Notices Info in public domain File Form 7 objections Advance liasion with DEO Gurgaon; Cross- linkages at ERO and AERO level

Challenge 1 1.Oct >2,000 employees; No names 2.Names, photos (6,000) with EPIC numbers of Gurgaon 3.25% intensive check 4.Political parties kept in loop; cooling down of political tempers

Challenge 2 SOP – 6 / 52 Table-top / software scrutiny - 7,904 Next 48 hours – non-stop cleansing Deleted – 3,568 4,336 – notices must. 12 th January 2015 !!

Challenge 3 30 th Jan complaint – 7,136 (4%) Rolls frozen. If true, public outcry 48 hour marathon – 11,472 ASD names Electronically flagged

Challenge 4 ASD list swells up (7%)Two special trainings to BLOs / Polling StaffAll BLOs on polling stationsAdditional address proof mandatory Presiding officers to get verification from BLOs ASD voter – Indelible Ink Check

Challenge 5 Special teams on Border in last 48 hours Additional Barricades Non-stop night patrol RO/ARO inspection in person Only intelligence based checks– else chaos Special focus - multiple males in buses / RTVs / Trucks without luggage No complaint of harassment from anyone

Challenge 6 Rangpuri Pahadi issue Personal scrutiny by ERO/AERO Permanent address proof verified Telephonic conversion with relative at native place 32/125

Challenge 7

Outcomes Charged atmosphere - media and political scrutiny; Nervous moments Un-usually short time schedule Meticulous execution 63.42% / 10% No complaint from any political party ASD list disposed off subsequently

Recommendations National ERMS database Periodic (annual?) de- duplication Part - IV SOP in place for bulk complaints Advance Cross- linkages at AERO level