Port Blair, Feb 16: For enhanced participation of electors in the electoral process and reducing the electoral malpractices and to improve the quality of electoral registration process and of the electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India from August 2006 has decided to introduce the concept of appointing Booth Level Officers who would be accountable for ensuring the fidelity of electoral roll.

BLOs are appointed from amongst the Officers of the Govt. /Semi Govt. /Local Bodies. Generally, one BLO is responsible for one part of the electoral roll. He is generally a voter in the same polling area or nearest area who assists in updating the roll using his local knowledge.

BLO is a representative of Election Commission of India (ECI) at the grass-root level who plays a pivotal role in the process of roll revision and collecting actual field information with regard to the roll corresponding to the polling area assigned to him.

The ECI introduced this new system of appointing BLOs creating a clear line of accountability for preparation of an error-free electoral roll, making the BLOs its custodian at the polling booth level. The preparation of accurate electoral rolls and direct distribution of voter identification slip by the BLOs also boosted voter confidence in the credibility of the election process.

BLO assists eligible citizens to become voters and obtain voter card. BLO provides those different forms for addition, deletion and correction of Electoral Roll entries, carries out physical verification, and gives his/her report to Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). The BLO interacts with local people/ political parties’ representatives and identifies dead/shifted/duplicate voters to be removed from the electoral roll after due process of law.

Within a few years of introduction of BLO system and successfully using it in successive elections, it has now become an integral part of election management of process. In this UT, Booth Level Officers are appointed in all 412 Polling Stations.

The Chief Electoral Officer, A&N Islands, Shri B S Jaglan, IAS has requested citizens to contact their BLOs of their respective parts and verify their name in electoral roll. The list of BLO is available in CEO’s official website: https://www.ceoandaman.nic.in and also they may call toll free No.1950 to know their area BLO.