Chandigarh: The deadline for submitting forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab ends Saturday, but concerns over the process continue to surface, with several residents reporting difficulties in retaining or updating their voter details.
Married women, people involved in matrimonial disputes and migrants are among those who say they have encountered hurdles during the verification and registration process.
Name Changes After Marriage Become a Hurdle
Women who changed their names or surnames following marriage say they have faced uncertainty over how such changes should be reflected in the electoral records.
According to residents, a lack of uniformity in guidance from Booth Level Officers (BLOs), many of whom are government teachers, has added to the confusion. Cases requiring additional verification are subsequently being taken up by election supervisors through personal hearings.
Some women said they were advised to have their existing voter entries deleted and register again as new voters. In certain cases, they were also asked to establish links with electoral records dating back to 2003, creating difficulties for those who do not possess the required documents.
Karanpreet Kaur said she was asked to produce her previous voter identity card, her father’s latest EPIC number and a certificate relating to deletion of her earlier entry.
She said she avoided further complications because she had retained her name and surname after marriage and had not altered them in her marriage certificate.
‘No Mapping’ Cases Pose Another Challenge
Dr Geeta, a plant pathologist at Punjab Agricultural University who is serving as an election supervisor in Ludhiana, said some applications are falling under the “no mapping” category.
These are cases where voters are unable to establish their own or their ancestors’ presence in the 2003 electoral records, she explained.
According to her, women who do not have documents reflecting their post-marriage identity can face particular difficulties and may have to appear personally before election officials with supporting papers.
“We are talking of women empowerment but in many cases women do not have a single document to prove their identity particularly name change after marriage,” Dr Geeta said.
Matrimonial Disputes Leave Some Voters in Limbo
Women involved in matrimonial disputes have reported another problem. Their names may have been removed from electoral records at their parental residence, while verification at their marital address may not be possible if they are living separately.
Silky, a resident of Phagwara, said she was informed by a BLO that she was not available during verification.
“How could I be present as I have a dispute going on. Now I am visiting election supervisor to get my name enrolled in the voters list,” she said.
Migrants Face Documentation Difficulties
People who have migrated for work or other reasons say they too are encountering difficulties, particularly when Aadhaar is not accepted as sufficient documentation for the particular verification requirement.
Residents said they have instead been asked to provide details linking them to ancestral electoral records and establish their connection with their native place.
Pankaj Sharma and his wife Nisha said they discovered that their names had been removed from the electoral rolls after they were unable to establish the required family records.
“I have been told that the record of my family could not be found so my vote has been deleted. I am visiting again to furnish the documents,” they said.
Nisha said her husband’s deletion also resulted in her own voter entry being affected.
“They are not accepting Aadhaar cards and I have been told to submit the details of my parents as well,” said Nisha, a resident of Haibowal, while visiting the election supervisor’s office in Ludhiana.
Allegations of Unequal Treatment
Some residents have also alleged that the verification process is not being applied uniformly, claiming that voters perceived to be close to local councillors receive more lenient treatment while others face additional documentation requirements.
These claims could not be independently verified.
Technical problems, incorrect mobile numbers and repeated visits to election offices have added to the frustration, residents said. Although online registration was available, some voters said they preferred dealing directly with BLOs or election officials because of technical difficulties or concerns about the online process.
The exercise has also forced some people employed outside their home districts or cities to travel back to their native places to complete the necessary formalities.
With the submission deadline ending, residents facing documentation or verification issues are now turning to election supervisors in the hope of having their cases examined and their names retained or restored in the electoral rolls.
