Port Blair, Sept. 6: The Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls has been scheduled by Election Commission of India with reference to January 1, 2021 as the qualifying date for enrollment of new electors. In this context, a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), A & N Islands, Shri K R Meena with all District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) / Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) in the conference hall of Secretariat on Sept. 4. DEO North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar District alongwith all AEROs attended through Video Conference.

The objective of the meeting was to streamline the process of verification of existing entries in the electoral roll and also enrolment of new and left out electors so as to prepare an error free and healthy Electoral Roll. Currently, the Commission is carrying out pre-revision activities which cineraria includes rationalization of polling station, removal of discrepancies of DSEs, EPICs etc. so that an error free and healthy electoral roll is prepared before the draft publication.

CEO emphasized on the rationalization of Polling Stations and formation of section as per the instruction contained in Manual on Polling Station 2016 in consultation with political parties. The main objective of rationalization is to group all the family members and neighbours in a section and maintain uniformity of addresses in Electoral Roll and EPIC. The removal of Demographically Similar Entries (DSEs), Removal of discrepancies in EPIC are pre-conditions for draft publication of electoral roll.

A massive drive to create awareness among masses be launched to ensure involvement of all stakeholders in this exercise. CEO directed all DEOs to call meeting of political parties and brief them about the schedule of SSR 2020 and seek their cooperation before the date of draft publication. All political parties have been requested to participate in the roll revision exercise so that a healthy electoral roll is prepared.

At last, the CEO requested all officials to strictly follow the COVID-19 protocols issued by the Commission and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare while carrying out the SSR 2021.